The times when it is permissible to recite Qur’aan

 

Can Suratul-Fatihah be recited at any time? I heard that it can only be recited at certain times only, like salaat or as prescribed by the Prophet (May Allaah's peace and blessings be upon him) for specific needs. If it is the latter, could you list the proper times to recite it?

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

It is
permissible for you to recite Qur’aan, or any soorah from it, at any time
and in any situation, except when you are in a state of janaabah (impurity
following sexual activity), in which case it is haraam to recite Qur’aan,
because of the hadeeth of ‘Ali who said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite Qur’aan to us in
all situations so long as he was not in a state of janaabah.” (Narrated by
al-Tirmidhi, al-Tahaarah, 136. al-Tirmidhi said: this hadeeth of ‘Ali
is hasan saheeh). This was also the view of the scholars among the
companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) and the Taabi’een. They said a man may recite Qur’aan without
wudoo’ but he should not read from the Mus-haf unless he is taahir (pure,
i.e., has wudoo’). This was the view of Sufyaan al-Thawri, al-Shaafa’i,
Ahmad and Ishaaq. 

See
Da’eef Sunan al-Tirmidhi by al-Albaani, hadeeth no. 22 

Shaykh
al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: The imams are agreed that it is haraam to recite
Qur’aan when in a state of janaabah. 

It is not
proper etiquette to recite Qur’aan when one is in a state of janaabah
because it is the words of Allaah which must be respected and venerated, and
kept away from all unclean places and places where haraam things take place,
which could dishonour it and show disrespect towards its sanctity. Moreover
the person who is in a state of janaabah can remove the impurity whenever he
wants, so he is not allowed to recite Qur’aan. But if you are impure in the
sense of minor impurity then it is permissible for you to recite only,
without touching the Mus-haf. See question no.
10672.
With regard to women when they are menstruating or bleeding following
childbirth, see question no. 2564. And Allaah
knows best. 

See
Tawdeeh Ahkaam al-Nisa’, 1/309.