It is recommended to recite al-Fåti˙ah unrestrictedly; meaning, without confining it to a specific place
or occasion. Allah, Transcendent and Exalted is He, says: Recite from the Qur’an as much as is easy
for you.2 And in the very same verse: So recite from it as much as is easy. Hence reciting the Qur’an
entails a tremendous reward. Allah, Transcendent is He, will grant to you in return ten good deeds for
each letter [of the Qur’an] you recite. I do not say that Alif. Låm. M•m. is a letter. Rather, Alif is a letter;
Låm is a letter; and M•m is a letter. Its like was said by the Prophet, peace be upon him, as reported
by al-Tirmidh•, no.2910; by way of Ibn Mas‘¥d, may Allah be pleased with him.
Al-Tirmidh• also records, no.2926; by way of Abu Sa‘•d al-Khudr•, may Allah be pleased with him; the
hadith: “Whoever, because of being preoccupied with the Qur’an or with remembrance of Me, asks
not of Me, I shall grant him the best of what I give to those who ask [of Me].” This is because [reciting]
the Qur’an is one of the most meritorious and highly recommended of deeds.
As for doing so at the start of any gathering, or at its conclusion, then there is no explicit text related
about this. If someone does so believing that it is a Sunnah, or an obligation, then this contravenes the
Sacred Law. But if he recites it in order to seek blessings (tabarruk) with the Noble Qur’an, then, Allah
willing, there is nothing wrong with this according to the view we hold to be the soundest. The issue
entails a dispute related to what is called bid‘ah i∂åfiyyah – “innovation by way of extension”.3 Many
Målik• scholars detest this type of bid‘ah, whereas in the opinion of other scholars the issue goes back
to the nature of al-dal•l al-‘åmm – general proofs, and what their scope encompasses of [unrestricted]
allowance or recommendation. This latter rule is the view of the Shafi‘•s and al-‘Izz b. ‘Abd al-Salåm,
as well as of al-Qaråf• who was a Målik•.
Therefore the issue, Allah willing, is one in which there is no problem, in the sense that it should not
be a cause for schisms to arise between Muslims: “Do not hate one another, do not envy one another,
do not turn your backs on one another,” says one hadith recorded by al-Bukhår•, no.6065 and Muslim,
no.2599; by way of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him.
Thus, whoever wishes to recite [al-Fåti˙ah at the start or end of a meeting], we should not prevent them
from doing so. However, one should not think that this is a Sunnah, or that the Prophet, upon whom
be peace, began in such a manner. This would not be correct. Nevertheless, if someone were to recite
it for its blessings, or out of seeking the reward it has with Allah, then there is nothing wrong in doing
so; Allah willing.