#Reverts
3 December 2025 • 2.33K views
Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
We have learned that a new Muslim who cannot yet recite Al-Fatiha in prayer is allowed to say instead: “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar…”
So, how should this dhikr be done? How many times should it be repeated?
Should it be said in all prayers, whether praying alone or in a congregation, and in both audible and silent prayers?
We also ask about the other obligations of prayer: are there alternative words for someone who cannot recite them, or is it enough for them to remain silent?
May Allāh bless you.
Sheikh Muhammad Al-’Ansi hafidahullah:
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
May Allāh give you life.
The ruling in this matter, may Allāh preserve you, is that they are obligated to learn Al-Fātiḥah. This is a duty: they must learn Al-Fātiḥah, because recitating it is a pillar of the prayer. Let this be well understood: they must recite Al-Fātiḥah, for it is one of the essential pillars of the prayer.
If one does not have sufficient time to learn Al-Fātiḥah (even though it is in fact easy), then they should recite other Āyāt from the Qur'ān in its place. For example, they may recite a shorter sūrah than Al-Fātiḥah, such as:
{إنا أعطيناك الكوثر}
or
{إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح}
He recites such passages in the prayer.
This is given precedence over the matter of saying the tasbīḥ. They should not simply say: “Subḥān Allāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, lā ilāha illā Allāh, and Allāhu akbar.”
Do you understand, may Allāh preserve you? Yes.
If one does not even have the time to recite the shortest sūrah in the Qur'ān, then in that case they may recite this dhikr. This is considered a case of necessity. They says: “Subḥān Allāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, and Allāhu akbar.” It appears that one should repeat this—repeat it three times. Yes.
As for the remembranced of rukū‘ and sujūd, they are very easy—indeed very easy. “Subḥāna rabbī al-‘adjīm...” or “Subḥāna rabbī al-a‘lā...”—he may repeat it once, twice, or three times. And if he is only able to say it multiple times, it suffices to say it once. That is if one cannot do more, insha’Allah, in the process of learning.
Remaining silent is not acceptable; he should utter some form of remembrance—glorifying Allāh, praising Him, magnifying Him, or affirming His oneness—while exerting his effort to learn and memorise Al-Fātiḥah.
May Allāh bless you.