Does this error in recitation invalidate the prayer?
The question, as received
Asalaamu alaykum. Recently in our masjid a hafiz boy was leading a fardh salaah and in the recitation of surah Hud aayat # 40, instead of “Hatta itha jaa a’amrunaa” he read “Hatta itha jaa anaa”. I am a hafiz too and I heard that if a major mistake is made in the recitation by which the meaning of the aayat changes, then the salaah will not be valid. I thought it changed the meaning, but I am not sure whether it is considered a major mistake or not. I would really appreciate it if you could let me know if our salaah was valid or not. Also I would appreciate if you could please let me know by what kind of recitation mistakes one’s salaah becomes invalid.
The answer
The error in recitation did not invalidate the prayer, the salāh was valid. The person in reference recited:
Explanation
حَتَّى إِذَا جَائنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ
Instead of:
حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ
This error was caused by omitting the word امر. According to the rules of omitting letters and words, as long as the meaning does not change to an unbearable corrupt meaning, the salāh will remain valid. The mistaken recitation has not resulted in an unbearable corrupt meaning.i
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
iوفي العلائية من رد المحتار
وَلَوْ زَادَ كَلِمَةً أَوْ نَقَصَ كَلِمَةً أَوْ نَقَصَ حَرْفًا أَوْ قَدَّمَهُ أَوْ بَدَّلَهُ بِآخَرَ نَحْوُ مِنْ ثَمَرِهِ إذَا أَثْمَرَ وَاسْتَحْصَدَ – تَعَالَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا – انْفَرَجَتْ بَدَلُ – انْفَجَرَتْ – إيَابٌ بَدَلُ – أَوَّابٌ – لَمْ تَفْسُدْ مَا لَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ الْمَعْنَى إلَّا مَا يَشُقُّ تَمْيِيزُهُ كَالضَّادِ وَالظَّاءِ فَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لَمْ يُفْسِدْهَا وَكَذَا لَوْ كَرَّرَ كَلِمَةً؛ وَصَحَّحَ الْبَاقَانِيِّ الْفَسَادَ إنْ غَيَّرَ الْمَعْنَى نَحْوُ (ج 1 ص 632-631 أيج أيم سعيد)
وكذا في فتاوى محمودية ج 7 ص 124 إدارة الفاروق
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.