Consequently, Sal?t is a proper noun that refers to the acts done in it. According to this point of view, the one who is physically unable to do Sal?t does not have to perform Sal?t at all, and the dumb who is physically well must do it. This view is, however, an odd one which contradicts the rulings of the pure Shar?’ah tests; All?h ( - عز وجل -) said: [ فاقرءوا ما تيسر من القرآن]
‘ So recite as much of the Qur’?n as may be easy for you’. (1)
The order in this ‘?yah is a general one which must be followed in accordance with the specification indicated in the following had?th; the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘Unless F?tihah is recited in one’s Sal?t, it is considered null and void’. (2)
As for the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) had?th: ‘Peform Sal?t as you have seen me performing it’, the act of seeing here refers to all of the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) actions not the physical ones only. When the purport of all the previous texts are joined together, it is easily concluded
(1) S?rat Al-Muzzammil (verse no. 20).
(2) Narrated by Al-Bukh?r? in his “Sah?h” (vol. 2 / no. 236, 237), Muslim in his “Sah?h” (vol. 1 / p. 295) (no. 394), Abdur Razz?q in his “Musannaf” (vol. 2 / p. 93), Ibn Ab? Shaibah in “Al-Musannaf” (vol. 1 / p. 143), Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (no. 822), At-Tirmith? in “Al-J?mi‘ (vol. 2 / p. 25), An-Nas?’? in “Al-Mujtab?” (vol. 2 / p. 137), and “Fad?’il Al-Qur’?n (no. 34), Ibn M?jah in “As-Sunnan” (no. 837) and Ad-D?rim? in “As-Sunnan” (vol. 1 / p. 283).
Al-Hanafiyyah held the opinion that the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) had?th, regarding the necessity of reciting Al-F?tihah in Sal?t, does not specify the generality of All?h’s order in S?rah Al-Muzzammil; consequently the muslim doing Sal?t has the choice to recite whatever is easy for him from the Qur’?n-i.e. not necessarily Al-F?tihah. The well- versed ‘Ulamah refuted this view saying that the apparent meaning of All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) order is that one has the choice to recite what ever is easy for him from the Qur’?n; however, the intended meaning is to recite the F?tihah as is affirmed in ‘Ub?dah’s narration. The general order in the Qur’?n is, then, specitfied by the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) had?th.
An-Nawaw? said: ‘ The words in the verse” whatever is easy” refer to F?tihah for it is easy for every muslim to recite’. Refer to “Sahrh An-Nawaw? ‘Al? Sah?h Muslim” (vol. 4 / p. 103), “Fathul B?r?” (vol. 2 / pp. 242 - 3), “Ma‘?lim As-Sunnan” (vol. 1 / p. 207), and “As-Saylul Jarr?r” (vol. 1 / p. 213).
After all this, how could those who abandon reciting the F?tihah in Sal?t seek All?h’s pleasure by doing such a sin just only to contradict other people’s Mathhab.