Does Saying Bismillah after Getting Up from Sujud Invalidate My Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

Sometimes I say bismillah after coming up from sujud. It is a habit from praying by myself.

If I do this in the congregation, is my prayer valid? Also if I say the takbir along with the imam is my prayer valid?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

1. No, saying “Bismillah” after getting up from a prostration does not invalidate the prayer because “Bismillah” is from the Quran and thus does not invalidate the prayer. Only worldly speech invalidates the prayer. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “It is not befitting for the prayer to contain the speech of people.” [Muslim]

Nonetheless, it remains prohibitively disliked (and thus sinful) to recite the Quran behind the Imam in congregational prayers.  [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

2. Saying the opening takbir along with the Imam won’t invalidate your prayer. In fact, it is sunna to do so and you will be rewarded. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “Utter your takbir when the Imam utters his takbir.” [Bukhari]

The grammatical analysis of this hadith in its original Arabic by the Hanafi jurists indicates that the takbir of the follower should happen at the same time as the Takbir of the Imam. [Tahtawi, Hashiya ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah]

Nonetheless, saying the takbir after the Imam is also a praiseworthy way to pray for the follower even according to the Hanafi school. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

There is leeway on the matter.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani