220 – It is related from ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Mother of the Quran (al-Fātiḥah).” Agreed upon.

Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Dāraquṭnī transmit a wording that reads: “No prayer is deemed valid if the Opening Chapter of the Book (al-Fātiḥah) is not recited in it.”

Another version, reported by Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Ḥibbān, states: “Perhaps you recite behind your imam?” We replied, “Yes.” He said, “Do not do so except with the Opening Chapter of the Book, for there is no prayer for anyone who does not recite it.” (1)

– Ḥadith grading:
The principal narration is recorded in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections.

As for the wording of Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Dāraquṭnī, Ibn Khuzaymah included it in his Ṣaḥīḥ, and Ibn al-Qaṭṭān declared it sound.

Regarding Aḥmad’s version, al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “It was narrated by Aḥmad, and by al-Bukhārī in his booklet on recitation behind the imam, and he authenticated it.”

I add: al-Tirmidhī graded it ḥasan and, concerning the wording of the two Ṣaḥīḥs, remarked, “This one is more authentic.” Among its corroborating reports is what Aḥmad narrated through Khālid al-Ḥadhdhāʾ, from Abū Qilābah, from Muḥammad ibn Abī ʿĀʾishah, from a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ; al-Ḥāfiẓ judged its isnād to be ḥasan.