Fatwa No : 84393
Ruling on Leading Prayer by a Person Who Intentionally Pronounces Ḍād as Dal or Thaal

Ruling on Leading Prayer by a Person Who Intentionally Pronounces Ḍād as Dal or Thaal

What do the esteemed scholars and honorable muftis say regarding the following issue: if an imam recites ghayr al-maghdūb as ghayr al-maghzūb and wa la al-dāllīn as wa la al-dawwālīn, and persists in doing so, what is the ruling for such an imam? And what is the nature of this act? Is it not considered lahn jali (a major error in Qur’anic recitation)? Is it permissible or impermissible to pray behind such an imam?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

If the said person intentionally changes the letter Ḍād to Dal or Thaal in recitation, then it is not permissible to pray behind such a person until he begins reciting correctly. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the said person to completely avoid such a grave mistake so that prayers led by him can be performed without any dislike (karahat).

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

وفي فتاوى قاضي خان: وإن كان لا يمكن الفصل بين الحرفين إلا بمشقة كالظاء مع الضاد (إلی قوله) وكذا لو قرأ غير المغظوب بالظاء أو بالذال تفسد صلاته ولو قرأ الصرات بالتاء تفسد صلاته اھ(۱۳۲ ج 1)۔