Commencing salaah with Surah Fatiha

Q: I read in tafseer Ibn kathir that Surah Fateha has seven verses in it and there are some Hadith also there in that tafseer from two sahihs that Bismillahir rahman nir Raheem is a first verse of Surah Fateha. There are only seven verses in Surah Fateha. Now, I saw in Sahih Bukhari Narrated From Anas bin Malik (radhiyallahu anhu): Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu anhu) and 'Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) used to start the prayer with "Alhamdulillahi rabbil aala min" Vol-1,book 12, number 710. ( Sahih Bukhari-- characteristics of prayer). Now, what should we start the prayer with?

A: We start with Alhamdu. We will appreciate that you do not study hadeeth independently. In the absence of an expert teacher, looking into the hadeeth will create confusion and doubts in your mind. Follow the right procedures and insha-Allah you will come to the right ends.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)