Asalaam aleikum w.w. I have been reading Alfatiha for only the first 2 Rakahts of salah and the rest of Rakahs i read other suras without Alfatiha,i just came to know that its a must to read Alfatiha for every Rakah of sala and if you miss it you have no sala, help me,how and what can i do to repent to Allah in the best way so that i do not miss the rewards of all salah i have been reading since chidhood and that am not punished by Allah. is there a specific way to cover up because I am scared i might have no salah reward for the past 20 years. jazakaAllah khaira

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Reciting Al-Faatihah is one of the pillars of the prayer to be performed in every Rak‘ah by the one praying alone according to the majority of scholars. Some of the jurists said that it is not required in every Rak‘ah.

Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni, explaining the opinions of the jurists on this issue: "The recitation of Al-Faatihah is obligatory in every Rak‘ah according to the correct opinion of the Hanbali Mathhab, as well as the Mathhab of Maalik, Al-Awzaa‘i and Ash-Shaafi‘i. It is reported from Ahmad that it is only required in two Rak‘ahs of the prayer. Similar has been reported from An-Nakha‘i, Ath-Thawri and Abu Haneefah... Al-Hasan said that if it is recited in one Rak‘ah, that is sufficient due to the saying of Allaah The Exalted (which means): {So recite what is easy for you of the Quran} [Quran 73:20]. Maalik said that as long as it is recited in three (of four) Rak‘ahs, that is sufficient since this is most of the prayer. The supporting evidence for our opinion is what Abu Qataadah narrated that: “The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, during the Thuhr prayer, would recite Umm Al-Kitaab (i.e. Al-Faatihah) and two Soorahs. He would elongate the first (Rak‘ah) and shorten the second, sometimes making himself audible. In the final two Rak‘ahs, he would recite Umm Al-Kitaab.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Pray just as you have seen me pray.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It is also narrated from Abu Sa‘eed that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Faatihah in every Rak‘ah.” Both he (Abu Sa‘eed) and ‘Ubaadah said: “The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded us to recite the Faatihah in every Rak‘ah.” Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught the one who prayed poorly how to pray the first Rak‘ah and then said: “And do that in your entire prayer.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This included the command to recite (Al-Faatihah). Jaabir said: “Whoever prayed a Rak‘ah without reciting therein did not (actually) pray, unless he is behind the Imaam.” Maalik reported it in Al-Muwatta’.” For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83389.

Based on this, what which we advise our sister, the one asking the question, to do is: if she is able to repeat these prayers which she prayed alone (i.e. not in congregation), after reaching puberty, in which she did not recite Al-Faatihah in each Rak‘ah, then that is best and most appropriate. There is no disagreement about doing so. If she does not know the exact number of prayers, then she should be diligent in estimating it and complete whatever she thinks is most likely to clear her liability. She should strive to seek knowledge and comprehension in the religion so she can perform the obligatory acts of worship just as Allaah The Exalted wanted of her.

If she finds taking the opinion that is most precautionary (of all other opinions) to be difficult for her, then we hope that she will benefit from knowing the different opinions regarding the obligation of Al-Faatihah in every Rak‘ah; and from the opinion of some of the scholars that whoever left a condition or pillar from the conditions and pillars of the prayer out of ignorance, then he/she is not required to repeat it.

Allaah Knows best.