Title: Ablution after Passing Wind, Recitation of Bismillah & Surah al-Faatihah during Sala'h Question: I have a few questions, the first of which is rather sensitive. If I had wudhu and then break wind, do I need to wash my backside first or do I simply perform another wudhu ? Secondly, in the first rakat of prayers, bismillah is recited before reciting Surah Al-Faatihah [2] . In the second and subsequent rak`ahs , is it necessary to recite bismillah again before reciting Surah Al-Faatihah ? Certainly at the mosque, the Imam [3] does not seem to recite it verbally and I cannot see how he can do it quietly because he doesn't allow sufficient time? Lastly, during the prayers when Surah Al-Faatihah is recited audibly, do I listen to the Imam or do I quietly recite it with him? Thank You Answer: Short answers to your questions follow: After passing of wind, you only need to refresh your ablution (perform a new ablution), nothing else is required. One may recite "Bismillah" at the beginning of Surah Al-Faatihah in every rak`ah , and also at the beginning of the verses recited after Surah Al-Faatihah , but doing so is not obligatory. If Surah Al-Faatihah is being recited audibly, in a jamaa`ah (congregational prayer) one should silently listen to it, for why else is the Imam reciting it loudly, if the followers are supposed to make their own recitations and not listen to the recitation of the Imam ? But in rak`ahs where the Imam is reciting Surah Al-Faatihah silently, one may also recite Surah Al-Faatihah silently, on his own. 28 th July 1999 [1] Wudhu is the Arabic word for the ritual ablution prescribed in the Shari`ah before prayers. [2] The first Surah of the Qur'an, recited in every rak`ah of the Sala'h . [3] ' Imam ' literally means leader. The word is used in the Arabic language for the head of the state as well as any other leader. Here it is used for the leader of the congregational prayers.