Fatwa ID: 08800

Answered by: Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Question:

I have a question regarding errors when reciting Quran. I once heard or was sent a clip telling Huffadh not to worry when making errors when reciting Quran in Taraweeh as the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam when once reciting made a human error and was corrected by a Sahabi.

I ask Allah to forgive me if I am wrong. Is there a narration in this regard?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

There is no authentic hadith that clearly states the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made an error while reciting the Qur’an. His recitation was divinely guided and protected. However, there are authentic narrations that show the Prophet ﷺ at times omitted parts of the prayer, and was reminded by his companions. These instances were not errors in revelation, but examples set by Allah ﷻ to teach the Ummah how to respond to forgetfulness in prayer.

One such example is found in the following hadith:

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in one of the afternoon prayers, and he prayed two rak‘ahs, then he said the salam. He stood up and leaned against a piece of wood in the mosque. Those who were in a hurry left, saying the prayer was shortened. Among them were Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, but they did not speak. A man with long arms, known as Dhul-Yadayn, said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been shortened or did you forget?’ He said: ‘It has not been shortened, and I did not forget.’ The man said: ‘Rather, you prayed two rak‘ahs.’ The Prophet ﷺ asked the people, and they confirmed it. So he completed the remaining rak‘ahs, then performed two prostrations of forgetfulness (sujood al-sahw) and ended with salam.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1214)

Scholars explain that this type of forgetfulness was from Allah ﷻ to demonstrate practical rulings related to sujood al-sahw and correction during prayer.

As for mistakes made by Huffaadh during Taraweeh, this is common and not sinful. It is recommended that others behind the Imam correct him. If no one is available to correct him, and the required amount of Qur’an has been recited, he may go into ruku‘, or continue with a different verse. The prayer remains valid in both cases.

This teaches us humility and attentiveness, not carelessness. Being open to correction is part of the Sunnah.

References:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِحْدَى صَلاَتَىِ الْعَشِيِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى خَشَبَةٍ كَانَتْ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَسْتَنِدُ إِلَيْهَا فَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ قَصُرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ فَهَابَاهُ أَنْ يَقُولاَ لَهُ شَيْئًا وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ طَوِيلُ الْيَدَيْنِ يُسَمَّى ذَا الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقَصُرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ أَمْ نَسِيتَ؟ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ لَمْ تَقْصُرْ وَلَمْ أَنْسَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا صَلَّيْتَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَكَمَا يَقُولُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ؟ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ‏.‏

(Sunan Ibn Majah 1214) https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1214

ولا ينبغِي للإمام أن يُلجِأَ المُقتدي (١)، بل يركعُ إن قرأ قدرَ ما تجوزُ به الصلاةُ، أو ينتقلُ إلى آيةٍ أخرى، كذا ذُكِر في “الهداية”

كتاب الجواهر من فقه الحنفية 383 المكتبة الشاملة

وينبغي للمقتدي أن لا يعجل بالفتح، وللإمام أن لا يلجئهم إليه، بل يركع إذا جاء أوانه أو ينتقل إلى آية أخرى. ولو أجاب رجلا في الصلاة بلا إله إلا الله فهذا كلام مفسد عند أبي حنيفة ومحمد رحمهما الله وقال أبو يوسف – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – لا يكون مفسدا

كتاب البناية شرح الهداية 2:416 المكتبة الشاملة

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham