Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

 

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

 

Thank you for your question.

 

In prayer, one is to maintain concentration (khush`) and reflect on the adhkar and tasbih he/she says.

 

When one prays in congregation, he/she should listen to the recitation of the imam and reflect on what the imam reads from the Qur’an. Allah says, “So when the Qur’an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.” (Al-A`raf 7:204)

 

According to some scholars, the imam’s recitation of al-Fatihah is sufficient and people who pray behind the imam are not required to read it.

 

Abu Bakr Al-`Arabi, as stated in Sh. Sayyed Sabiq’s Fiqh As-Sunnah, says: “What we see as the strongest opinion is that one must recite during the prayers in which the imam’s recital is subdued. But, during the prayers where the Imam recites aloud, one may not recite.”

 

If the imam leaves sometime after reading Al-Fatihah, you may read it. When the imam resumes reading Qur’an, you need to listen to the imam even if you do not finish reading Al-Fatihah. In rak`ahs when the imam does not read loudly, you may read Al-Fatihah if you have enough time to.

 

May Allah accept your and our good deeds!

 

Allah Almighty knows best.