Mahmud bin al-Rabi' al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) stood beside me and recited along with the imam while the imam was reciting aloud. When he finished, I said: "Abu al-Walid, you recite, and loud enough to be heard, while he is reciting aloud?" He said: "Yes. We once recited along with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made a mistake and then said 'Subhan Allah'. When he finished, he said to us: 'Did anyone recite along with me?' We said: 'Yes.' He said: 'I was wondering and said to myself: Who is this who is contending with me in the Qur'an? When the imam recites, do not recite anything except Surah al-Fatihah, for there is no prayer for the one who does not recite it.'" This report supports Makhul's narration, and I have mentioned it as a corroborating report (shahid).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to make this announcement among the people: "There is no prayer without reciting Surah al-Fatihah and something more (of the Qur'an)." This hadith is sahih (authentic) and there is no doubt about it, because Ja'far bin Maymun is among the trustworthy narrators of Basrah, and Yahya bin Sa'id narrates only from trustworthy narrators. Furthermore, the command to recite behind the imam is also established from Sayyiduna Umar and Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both).

It is narrated from Yazid bin Sharik that he asked Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) about reciting behind the imam. He said: "Recite Surah al-Fatihah." I asked: "Even if you are the imam?" He said: "Yes, even if it is me." I asked: "Even if you are reciting aloud?" He said: "Yes, even if I am reciting aloud."