Do mistakes during recitation make sajdah sahwe necessary?
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Answer
The Hanafi jurists have mentioned the following rules with regards to making a mistake in recitation during salah:
- If the person makes such a mistake in which the meaning of the Holy Quran is changed. The Salah in this case will be deemed invalid irrespective of whether three verses of the Holy Quran was recited or not.
- If the mistake is such that the harakaats were changed. For example zabar was read instead of zer etc. In this situation the salah will not be rendered invalid. However, if by changing the harakaats the meaning of the Holy Quran changed then the salah will become void.
- If a person read a certain letter instead of another letter and it was possible to differentiate between both without any difficulty the salah will break. However, if it was difficult to differentiate between the letters for example ‘seen and saad’ then if he changed it intentionally the salah will be rendered void, otherwise it will be considered intact.
- If a person read extra words in which the meaning of the verse changed the Salah will be rendered invalid, whether the extra words he read were in the Holy Quran or not. However, if the meaning does not change then whether the extra words he read are mentioned in the Holy Quran or not, his salah will remain intact. (Fatawa Hindiyyah p.79 v.1)
With regards to your question, if you make a mistake in reciting a particular surah (as long as the meaning has not changed) there is no need for you to start all over again. You should correct the mistake and move along to the next verse. Sajdah Sahwe would not be necessary in this situation. (Fatawa Hindiyyah p.65 v.1 & Aapke Masail p.372 v.3)
The ruling is the same for Surah Fatiha and for other Surahs.
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.
