Mawdoo` (Fabricated) Hadeeth: No: 1 "He who recites behind the Imaam, his mouth is filled with fire."

Mawdoo` (Fabricated). Ibn Taahir quoted it in Tadhkirah al-Mawdoo`aat (p.93), and said, "The isnaad contains Ma''''moon ibn Ahmad al-Harawi, an utter liar who used to narrate fabrications." More of his description is given in hadeeth below Ibn Hibbaan mentioned this hadeeth under his name in ad-Du`afaa (The Weak Narrators) and Dhahabi regarded it as one of his calamities!

Some Hanafis have been deceived by this hadeeth, arguing on its basis that any recitation behind the imaam is totally haraam! Abul Hasanaat al-Luknawi said in at-Ta`leeq al-Mumajjid `alaa Muwatta` Muhammad (p. 99), "It was mentioned by the author of Nihaayah and by others as marfoo` with the wording, `_there is a burning coal in his mouth'''', and it is totally baseless."

He had said before that, "In no saheeh marfoo` hadeeth is there a forbiddance of reciting al-Faatihah behind the Imaam; all that they quote as marfoo` regarding this is either baseless or not authentic", and had then mentioned this hadeeth with both wordings as an example.

The people of knowledge, both past and present, have differed regarding recitation behind the imaam, taking one of three views:

1. That recitation in loud and quiet prayers is obligatory.

2. That silence in loud and quiet prayers is obligatory.

3. That there be recitation in quiet, but not in loud, prayers.

This last view is the most balanced and closest to the truth, for in it, all the evidences can be accommodated such that none of them is rejected totally. It is the view of Maalik and Ahmad, and has also been prefered after analysis by some Hanafis, including Abul Hasanaat al-Luknawi in his aforementioned book.

The Weakness of the Hadeeth condemning Recitation behind the Imaam Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth ad-Da`eefah wal-Mawdoo`ah (568-570) by Shaykh al-Albaani

Another example of Ma''''moon al-Harawi''''s inventions is the Next Hadeeth.