In Salah (Islamic prayer), it is obligatory to recite a portion of the Quran. However, the question often arises: Is reciting only Surah Al-Fatiha enough to fulfill this requirement?
The Hanafi Perspective
According to the Hanafi school of thought, the minimum amount of Quranic recitation required in prayer is at least three short verses or a portion of the Quran equivalent in length to three short verses. While reciting Surah Al-Fatiha is considered wajib (necessary), it does not entirely fulfill the farz (obligatory) recitation requirement by itself. Thus, to complete the recitation properly, one must also read an additional three short verses or another surah after Al-Fatiha.
In obligatory prayers (farz salah), this additional recitation is required in the first two units (rak’ahs), while in voluntary prayers (sunnah salah), it is necessary in every unit. If a person forgets to include additional verses or a surah after Al-Fatiha, they should perform sujood al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness). However, if it is intentionally omitted, the prayer needs to be repeated (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 1/458).
The Shafi’i Perspective
In the Shafi’i school, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha is sufficient to fulfill the farz obligation of recitation during prayer. While it is recommended (sunnah) to recite an additional surah or a few verses afterward, it is not obligatory. Therefore, if someone recites only Al-Fatiha, their prayer is still valid (Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, 1/353, 361).
In summary, while reciting only Surah Al-Fatiha may suffice according to some scholars, the Hanafi school requires additional verses or a surah to meet the full requirements of prayer. Thus, it is recommended to follow this practice for a complete and proper recitation in Salah.