* Abandoning Du‘?’ul Istift?h and the Isti’?thah before reciting F?tihah:

It is indeed recommended for the one doing Sal?t to begin his Sal?t with [Takb?r followed by] reciting Du‘?’ul Istift?h and then Isti’?thah.

The Isti’?thah should preferably be recited in each Rak’ah complying with the general order in All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) verse:

[ فإذا قرأت القرآن فاستعذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم]

‘ when you want to recite the Qur’?n, seek refuge with All?h from shait?n the out cast [i.e. by reciting Isti’?thah]’. (1)

This is the soundest of Ash-Sh?fi‘? opinions and is preponderated by Ibn hazm. (2)

[3/ 19] Repeating F?tihah more than once:

Repeating Al-F?tihah -or any part of it- more than once [in each Rak‘ah] is detested for this was not the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) guidance nor his Sah?bah ( - رضي الله عنه -). This opinion is held by the Jumh?rul ‘Ulamah and the four eminent Im?ms. The ‘Ulamah, however, held opposite opinions as to whether repeating Al-F?tihah more than once renders one’s Sal?t invalid; there is no authentic proof that supports the opinion that says it does, which is held by some of the Hanbal? followers. Al-Hanaf? and Ash-Sh?fi‘? followers held that the doer of such an act should do the prostration of forgetfulness if one does such an act out of forgetfulness or intentionally as the Sh?fi‘? followers held.

According to the Hanaf? followers, Sal?t should be repeated to wipe out the sin incurred upon oneself due to repeating F?tihah intentionally. M?lik? followers considered such an act as Har?m but one’s Sal?t is not rendered null and void if it was done intentionally. However, they held that one should do the prostration