It is narrated from Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite Surah al-A'raf in both rak'ahs of the Maghrib prayer. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs, provided there is no irsal (a missing link) in it, but they did not record it with this wording; rather, they only agreed on (the report of) lengthy recitation.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Umm al-Qur'an (Surah al-Fatihah) is a substitute for (sufficient in place of) the other surahs, but the other surahs cannot be a substitute for it." The two Shaykhs have recorded this hadith with different wordings. Most of the narrators of this report are imams and trustworthy, and they meet the condition of the two Shaykhs.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever prays an obligatory prayer behind the imam should recite Surah al-Fatihah during the imam's pauses (the intervals of silence), and whoever has recited Umm al-Kitab, it suffices him for the prayer."

Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the Fajr prayer, and the recitation became heavy for him (peace and blessings be upon him). When he finished, he said: "It seems that you recite behind your imam?" We said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not do so, except for Umm al-Qur'an (Surah al-Fatihah), for there is no prayer for the one who does not recite it."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Do you recite along with me in the prayer?" We said: "Yes." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not recite anything except Fatihat al-Kitab."

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."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to order that, behind the imam, one should recite Surah al-Fatihah and a surah in the first two rak'ahs, and only Surah al-Fatihah in the last two rak'ahs.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was just like your prayer, but he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to keep the prayer light. He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite Surah al-Waqi'ah and surahs like it in the Fajr prayer. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs did not record it; Imam Muslim only recorded the report mentioning Surah al-Waqi'ah.