Q.) From my knowledge, according to Shafi’i Mazhab Bismillah is one of the ayat in Surah Al-Fatihah. Therefore, do we need to recite Bismillah in the Salat? This problem arises when one of my friends is leading the Magrib Salat and he just starts the Surah Al-Fatihah with Alhamdulillah. Is it permissible in Shafii Mazhab? [Shukri]

A.) In the Shafi’i madhhab, “Bismillah” is to be recited loudly, as it is regarded as the first of 7 verse of al-Fatihah. Reciting it softly will not constitute proper practice, but neither will it invalidate the Salat. Not to recite the Fatihah at all, neither loudly nor softly, would invalidate his Salat.