In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

In a Hadeeth reported by Imaam Abu Dawud [may Allaah have mercy upon him], Al-Musawwari Ibn Yazid al-Maliki [may Allaah be pleased with him] said that Allaah’s Messenger [peace a dn blessings of Allaah be upon him] recited (the Qur’aan) in some prayer and left out something (i.e. omitted some verses accidentally), so a man said to him, “O Allaah’s Messenger! You omitted such and such ayah!” So, Allaah’s Messenger said to him, “Would you have reminded me”. (1)

Question to Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen: Is it obligated on those being led in Salaah to correct the Imaam if he makes a mistake in his recitation of the Qur’aan?

Answer: If the Imaam makes a mistake in an obligatory recitation, such as in his recitation of (Surah) Al-Faatihah, it is obligated on those being led in prayer to rectify him. If (the mistake occurs) in a ‘Recommended Recitation’ (i.e. a Surah other than Faatihah), we should examine the affair, so if he changed the meaning, it obligatory to (help him to recite it again); but if the meaning is not changed, it is not obligatory (i.e. i.e. to make him recite it again). (2)

The Imaam May Pause Due to a Different Reason, So Do Not Hasten to Rectify

In a hadeeth reported by Imaam Muslim [may Allaah have mercy upon him], Hudhaifah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “I prayed with the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] that night when he started Surah al-Baqarah. So I said (to myself), ‘He will make Rukoo after one hundred Aayaat’. But he carried on after that, so I thought that he will finish it (the Surah) in two Rak’aats. But he carried on, so I thought that he will make Rukoo when he has finished i’. Then he started Surah an-Nisaa and recited it all, then he started Surah Aal Imraan and recited it all. He was reciting slowly; when he came to an ayah in which there was glorification of Allaah, he glorified Allaah; at an ayah which had something to be asked for, he asked for it; at mention of seeking refuge, he sought refuge…” (3)

Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, ” In this (hadeeth) is a recommendation regarding (the performance of) these acts by every reciter in the Salaah and other than it. And our Madhab is that it is recommended for the Imaam, those praying behind the Imaam and the person praying alone”. (4)

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If a person is listening to the recitation of the Imaam, then it is better that he does not busy himself with anything else besides keeping quiet and listening. And if the Imaam stops at the end of the Aayah and it is an Aayah about mercy, or an ayah about seeking refuge or an Aayah about exalting Allaah, then there is no harm in doing so. But if the person does this whilst the Imaam is continuing his recitation, then I fear that he will busy himself with this instead of listening to the Imaam”. (5)

Imaam Shawkaani [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “It is disliked to hasten to rectify the Imaam”. (6)

Finally, reminder by Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah preserve him]:

التكلف في قراءة القرآن أنكره أئمة السلف رحمهم الله الشيخ ربيع المدخلي -حفظه الله- – منتديات الإمام الآجري

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[Ref 1:Hadeeth was declared Hasan by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in his checking of Sunan Abu Daawud. Hadeeth Number 907. Page 144. 1st edition Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif Riyaadh]:

[Ref 2:Liqaa Al-Baab Al-Maftooh 3/29]

[Ref 3:Saheeh Muslim Hadeeth Number 772]

[Ref 4: Saheeh Muslim Bi-Sharh An-Nawawi’ Vol 5-6’ page 55’ Publisher Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyyah 1st edition 1421AH (Year 200)]

[Ref 5:http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-2300/page-2456 ]

[Ref 6: Fathul Qadeer 1/283]