Is 'Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim' (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful) a verse of Surah Al-Fatiha that must be recited in prayer?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is the established view that 'Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim' is a verse from Al-Fatiha. This position is held by Imam Al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Abu Ubayd, Ibn al-Mubarak, Abu Abdullah Ibn Battah, and Abu Hafs. Ibn al-Mubarak stated that whoever omits it has omitted one hundred and thirteen verses. Al-Shafi'i maintained it is a verse of every Surah, citing the Hadith of Umm Salamah. Furthermore, the Companions documented it in the Mus'hafs in their script, and nothing was inscribed between the covers except the Quran. Evidence supporting its inclusion is the narration from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded: "When you recite: Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-'Alamin, then recite: Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim, for it is the Mother of the Book, it is the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses, and Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim is a verse from it."
Supporting text
A narration from Ahmad states that it is not a verse of Al-Fatiha, nor a verse of any other Surah, and its recitation is not obligatory in prayer. This view is also attributed to Abu Hanifah, Malik, Al-Awza'i, and Abdullah ibn Ma'bad al-Zamani. Another view reported from Ahmad suggests it was an independent verse revealed between Surahs to serve as a separation, or that it is only part of a verse in Surah An-Naml, which Al-Awza'i and Abdullah ibn Ma'bad agreed upon regarding its singular mention there.