Saying the Basmala (the phrase Bismillaahirrahmaanirraheem) before Surat al-Fatiha in every rak’at is sunnat in the madhhabs of Hanafi and Hanbali. It is makruh in the Maliki Madhhab and fard (obligatory) in the Shafi’i Madhhab. (Al-Fiqh 'ala al-Madhahib al-Arba'ah) According to the Shafi’i Madhhab, the Basmala is an ayah of Surat al-Fatiha, so it is fard to say it in salat just as it is fard to recite Surat al-Fatiha. When one follows a second madhhab in an act of worship out of necessity, one should do fard elements that the second madhhab one is to follow has established concerning that act of worship and avoid doing whatsoever the second madhhab has pronounced to be detrimental to that act of worship. As for sunnat and makruh acts, one should follow the rulings that one’s own madhhab has established. Accordingly, if a Hanafi follows also the Maliki Madhhab in salat out of necessity, it will be sunnat for him/her to say the Basmala before Surat al-Fatiha. If a Hanafi follows the Shafi’i Madhhab in salat out of necessity, it will be fard for him/her to say the Basmala before Surat al-Fatiha.
