Fatwa ID: 07155
Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman
Question:
What is the ruling on praying the holy Qur’an from memory bearing in mind no matter how well you have memorised the Holy Qur’an you can make some mistakes that you are unaware off. I am asking this question because at work I can pray between 3 and 5 chapters from memory but just concerned what will happen if I make a few mistakes that I am unaware off.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
As Muslims we try our best to do as many good deeds as we can to best of our sincere ability and potential. Reciting the Qur’an is an amazing act of worship and Allah SWT rewards one for memorising the Qur’an and reciting the holy Qur’an.
مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَهْوَ حَافِظٌ لَهُ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ، وَمَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَهْوَ يَتَعَاهَدُهُ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ شَدِيدٌ، فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ
Such a person as recites the Qur’an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward. [Bukhari Hadeeth no: 4937]
A human mind is not built like a computer where everything is programmed in terms of being systematic with complete perfection. Yes there can be cases where one can have amazing memory but getting mistakes is inevitable and that’s why having correctors behind the Imam for Taraaweeh for example is advised. As long as you aren’t purposefully making mistakes, mistakes that are bound to be made will be made after much precaution.
Allah SWT mentions in the Qur’an:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
Allah does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity. [Surah Baqarah verse 286]
And there is nothing to worry about when an individual exerts himself trying to do good even though the deed may not be up to 100% perfection:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِين
Allah does not cause the work of the doers of good to go to waste. [Surah Tawbah verse 120]
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
