What is the ruling on reciting Al-Fatihah after the Imam whether the prayer is performed loudly or silently?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Scholars have no final agreement regarding your question: whether to recite Al-Fatihah when you are a follower in a congregational prayer or not. They depend on different hadiths. Thus, they have different opinions. The prophet says: “Whoever prays a prayer without reciting Um-Al-Qur’an (i.e. Al-Fatihah), their prayer is deficient (repeating this three times) and incomplete. Related by Muslim. This shows the necessity of reciting Al-Fatihah.

On the contrary, there is another prophetic hadith in which the prophet says: “The Imam is appointed to be followed. When he says the Takbir, say the Takbir. If he bows, bow after him. If he stands after he bows, stand after him. If he says: Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears whoever praises Him), say Rabban walak Al-hamd (Oh Allah! To You is all praise). If he prostrates, prostrate after him.” Related by Al-Bukhari.

This hadith shows that the recital of Imam is sufficient.

Scholars have found a link between the prophetic sayings regarding the recital of Qur’an. They say that reciting Al-Fatihah in the prayer which is performed silently is obligatory. However, reciting it in the prayer which is performed loudly is not obligatory especially if the Imam does not give the followers enough time to recite Al-Fatihah.

Nevertheless, if the Imam gives the follower some time, the follower must recite it. Another opinion which connects what is mentioned in different hadiths is reciting it while the Imam is reciting. In this case, a follower can find a solution which makes his prayers valid.