Question
Is it correct that for all five salaat behind the Imaam I do not read surah fatiha or surah in all the rakaats as a Hanafi and Shafis have to read surah fatiha in every rakaat.
Answer
Indeed, what you are doing behind the Imaam as an adherent of the Hanafi Madhab (of not reciting Surah Fatiha or any Surah) is correct. According to the Hanafi Madhab, a Muqtadi (a person following the Imaam in Salaah) in all five Salaahs, under all circumstances-be it in the audible Salaah (i.e. Fajr, Maghrib and Esha) or the silent Salaah (i.e. Dhuhr and Asr)- should remain silent and not recite Surah Faatihah or any other Surah when performing Salaah behind the Imaam, as the Imaam’s Qira’at will suffice for him. In fact, in the Hanafi Madhab, it is Makrooh Tahreemi (highly abominable) for the Muqtadi to recite Surah Fatiha or any other Surah behind the Imam.
With regard to the ruling in the Shafi Madhab, you may refer to a Shafi Mufti as we at the Daar-ul-Iftaa are not in a suitable position to comment or pass a verdict in the Shafi Madhab due to our Daar-ul-Iftaa only specializing in the Hanafi Madhab.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
وَإِذَا قُرِىءَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ .(الأعراف، 204)
فأما المقتدي فلا قراءة عليه عندنا.
(ج1 ص294 – بدائع الصنائع)