Question
What mistakes render a Salaah invalid if made during Qira’āt?
Answer
The principle according to Imaam Abu Hanifa Rahmatullahi Alaih and Imaam Muhammad Rahmatullahi Alaih is, if a major and drastic change takes place in the meaning due to changing a word, or reciting the incorrect I’raab, then Salaah will become Faasid, and if the meaning didn’t change then Salaah remains intact whether that particular word is found in the Quraan or not. However, according to Imaam Yusuf Rahmatullahi Alaih if a similar word is found in the Quraan then Salaah will not become Faasid irrespective of whether there was a major change to the meaning or not. If the word recited (that caused the meaning to change) is not found in the Quraan then Salaah will be Faasid. This difference is applicable if the mistake was committed in error. However, if the error (that brings about a major change in the meaning) was intentionally committed by the reciter then all jurists agree that Salaah will be Faasid.
Ibn Amir-ul-Haaj Rahmatullahi Alaih has elaborated on the above by stating that if by changing the word or I’raab the meaning does not become corrupt, but rather changes into the Praises of Allah Ta’aala then (even though the change was done intentionally), Salaah will not become Faasid.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
فالاصل فيها عند الامام ومحمد رح تغير المعني تغيرا فاحشا وعدمه للفساد وعدمه مطلقا سواء كان اللفظ موجودا في القراٰن او لم يكن وعند ابي يوسف رح ان كان اللفظ نظيره موجودا في القراٰن لا تفسد مطلقا تغير المعني تغيرا فاحشا او لا , وان لم يكن موجودا في القراٰن تفسد مطلقا — ومحل الاختلاف في الخطاء والنسيان , اما في العمد فتفسد به مطلقا بالاتفاق اذا كان مما يفسد الصلوة – اما اذا كان ثناء فلا تفسد ولو تعمد ذلك افاده ابن امير الحاج (نور الايضاح – باب زلة القاري)