Is it better to pray at home to avoid disagreement with an Imam who makes a clear linguistic error (laḥn jalī) in reciting Al-Fatiha, and will the one who prays (alone) attain the reward of congregational prayer and a greater reward than if he prayed behind the Imam?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the clear grammatical error (Lahn Jali) does not change the meaning, invalidate it, or omit a letter, then the prayer is not invalidated by it. However, if the error alters or invalidates the meaning, then the prayer becomes invalid. The Malikis invalidate the prayer of one who intentionally commits a grammatical error. Praying at home is preferable if one is following someone who commits a grammatical error that invalidates the prayer, in order to attain the reward of congregational prayer, even if prayed at home.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/147149
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 147149
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy