Reciting Al-Fātiḥah during prayer has different situations:
1. When praying alone, Al-Fātiḥah is obligatory according to the Ḥanafiys, and it is a pillar according to others. It must be recited with the movement of the tongue, but silent recitation is not acceptable. It is permissible to recite it in secret, even during Fajr, Maghrib, or ʽIshāʼ prayers, but the limit of secrecy is to pronounce the letters and hear oneself or feel the recitation. Some scholars said it is enough that a nearby person would hear the recitation or its whispering.
2. When praying in congregation. Prayer in congregation is either silent or audible. As for the audible prayer, one must listen to the Imam’s recitation, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever has an imam, the imam’s recitation is his recitation” (This is recorded by ʼAḥmad and Ibn Mājah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “When the Imam says ‘Allāhu ʼAkbar,’ say ‘Allāhu ʼAkbar,’ and when he recites, be silent” (This is recorded by Muslim). The apparent meaning of the verse in Sūrah Al-ʼAʽrāf also supports this: “And when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it and remain silent, that you may receive mercy” (7:204).
This previous opinion is the opinion of the majority of the Ḥanafiys, Mālikiys, and Ḥanbaliys. However, the Shāfiʽiys believe that the recitation of Al-Fātiḥah is obligatory for the follower (Maʼmūm), both in silent and audible prayers, behind the Imam. They base this opinion on the ḥadīths that make the recitation of Al-Fātiḥah obligatory, without distinguishing between the Imam, the follower, and the one who prays alone. There is a ḥadīth that is recorded in Aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥayn and other ḥadīth collections, which is narrated on the authority of ʽUbādah ibn aṣ-Ṣāmit (may Allāh be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the opening chapter of the Book (i.e., Al-Fātiḥah).” (This ḥadīth is recorded by Al-Bukhāriy and Muslim)
In our (Ḥanafiy) school of thought, we interpret this ḥadīth that the negation in it is a negation of being the prayer perfect, not a negation of being it accepted.
As for the silent prayers, the third and fourth Rakʽahs of ʽIshāʼ and the third Rakʽah of Maghrib, it is not obligatory for the follower to recite Al-Fātiḥah, and the recitation of the Imam is sufficient. However, it is recommended for the follower to recite it, so as not to remain silent. The Shāfiʽiys, on the other hand, believe that recitation is obligatory in these prayers.
As for the matter of inhalation and exhalation, I did not understand it, but the recitation should be done in the best possible manner by the reader.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr