Fatwa ID: 07585
Answered by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Question:
If somebody knows how to do Salah, but he makes an unintentional mistake that changes the meaning of Al Fatihah, but he doesn’t remember what he did. He thinks he has Done it right, because I read something about certainty is not removed by doubt can his Salah be valid?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
- Mistake in Reciting Al-Fatiha
In the Hanafi school of thought, the recitation of Al-Fatiha is an essential component of Salah (fard). If a person makes a mistake that unintentionally changes the meaning of the verse but is unaware of it at the time and believes they have recited it correctly, their Salah can still be considered valid under certain conditions.
If the person does not recall the mistake during or after Salah and had a firm conviction that they were reciting correctly at the time, then the principle of certainty not being removed by doubt applies. This principle is based on the understanding that acts of worship are judged by intention and certainty unless a person becomes fully aware of the mistake.
- Certainty is Not Removed by Doubt
The principle “اليقين لا يزول بالشك” (certainty is not removed by doubt) (Qawaaid Fiqiyyah) applies here. If the person is certain that they performed the Salah correctly, then doubts about a potential mistake later do not invalidate the Salah. In the Hanafi school, minor mistakes in pronunciation that do not alter the fundamental meaning or were unintentional do not invalidate the prayer, especially if the person is unaware of them.
- Mistakes That Change the Meaning
If the person later realises that they made a mistake in reciting Al-Fatiha and the mistake was significant enough to change the meaning of the verse (such as changing the meaning of a key word), it could invalidate the recitation, and in some cases, the Salah. However, this only applies if the mistake was clearly known and recognized. If the mistake was not realized and there was no intention to change the meaning, the Salah remains valid.
Conclusion
- If a person unintentionally makes a mistake in Al-Fatiha that changes the meaning, but they are unaware of it and believe they recited it correctly, their Salah is valid based on the principle that certainty is not removed by doubt.
- If the mistake is realised after the Salah, and it was unintentional, there is no obligation to repeat the prayer.
General Rule:
If a person believes they have performed Salah correctly and only later doubts if they made a mistake, they should rely on their initial certainty that the Salah was correct.
In summary, the person’s Salah is valid, and there is no need to repeat the prayer unless they are certain that a significant mistake was made. May Allah grant you ease and clarity in your worship.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
إذا كان الخطأ في قراءة الفاتحة غير متعمد ولم يدركه المصلي حتى بعد الصلاة فلا تبطل صلاته، لأنه لا تكليف في السهو غير المقصود”
(Al-Hidaya, Vol. 1, Pg. 148)
“من شك في صلاته بعد الفراغ منها فلا يلتفت إلى شكه”
(Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Vol. 1, Pg. 573)
