Is my prayer valid behind an imam who mispronounces Al-Fatiha in a way that changes the meaning, knowing that his prayer is invalid, and this is in a silent prayer?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Whoever's prayer is invalid due to a melodic error (laḥn) in Al-Fatihah that alters the meaning, then the prayer of anyone who follows him is also invalid. There is no difference between a silent and an audible prayer in this regard, because it is not permissible to follow someone who does not master Al-Fatihah, even in a silent prayer. This is because the Imam is in the position of bearing the recitation, and such a person is not fit for bearing.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/131937
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 131937
- 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