Ruling on an Imam Who Does Not Master the Rules of Tajwid

حكم إمامة من لا يحسن أحكام التجويد

Ruling on an Imam Who Does Not Master the Rules of Tajwid

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article, “Ruling on an Imam Who Does Not Master the Rules of Tajwid,” is included in the Islamic Questions and Answers Category

السؤال

Question:

ما رأيكم في الذي يصلي وهو لا يعرف أحكام التجويد؟ مع العلم أنه يصلي بالناس إماما.

What is your view regarding someone who prays but does not know the rules of tajwid, while at the same time leading other people in prayer as the imam?

الإجابــة

Answer:

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وعلى آله وصحبه، أما بعد:

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his Companions. To proceed:

فينبغي للمصلي أن يقرأ القرآن ويرتله أحسن ترتيل، قال الله تعالى:

A person who is praying should recite the Qur’an and recite it with the best possible tartil. Allah Most High says:

وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلاً [المزمل:٤].

“And recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.” (Surah al-Muzzammil, verse 4)

وذلك يكون بمعرفة أحكام التجويد والتلاوة، وتطبيقها عملياً خاصة من كان إماماً لغيره في الصلاة، فشأن الإمامة عظيم، ولذلك لا يتصدر لها إلا أقرأ القوم للقرآن، لما رواه مسلم من حديث أبي مسعود رضي الله عنه، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:

This is achieved by learning the rules of tajwid and Qur’anic recitation and applying them in practice, especially for someone who leads others in prayer. The position of imam is a serious responsibility, and therefore the person most proficient in reciting the Qur’an should be given precedence in leading the prayer. Imam Muslim narrated from Abu Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

يؤم القوم أقرؤهم لكتاب الله….. وعند مسلم أيضاً من حديث أبي سعيد من قول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أحقهم بالإمامة أقرؤهم….

“The one who is most proficient in reciting the Book of Allah should lead the people in prayer.” In another narration in Muslim from Abu Sa’id, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The one most entitled to lead them in prayer is the one most proficient in recitation.” (Narrated by Imam Muslim)

ولكن لو صلى بهم من لا يحسن أحكام التجويد صحت صلاته وإمامته مع الكراهة، ما دامت قراءته صحيحة وليس فيها ما يحيل المعنى.. كما نص على ذلك الإمام أحمد وغيره.

However, if a person who does not properly know the rules of tajwid leads them in prayer, his prayer and his imamah are still valid, although this is disliked, as long as his recitation itself is correct and contains no error that changes the meaning. This was stated by Imam Ahmad and other scholars.

فإن أحال المعنى في الفاتحة بطلت صلاته كمن ضم تاء أنعمت أو كسر كاف إياك فتبطل صلاته وصلاة من خلفه، وانظر الفتوى الأخرى هنا

If, however, he makes an error in al-Fatihah that changes the meaning — such as pronouncing the ta’ in “أنعمتَ” with dammah as (أنعمتُ), or pronouncing the kaf in “إياك” with kasrah as (إيَاكِ) — then his prayer is invalid, and the prayer of those behind him is also invalid. See another fatwa here:

• Errors in Qur’an Recitation: The Views of the Scholars on This Matter
• Ruling on Lahn Jali in Surah al-Fatihah and Other Surahs

والله أعلم.

And Allah knows best.

Source: IslamWeb