What is the validity of the prayer of an imam who says "salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh" (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) with a dammah on the letter "m" and without the definite article "al-," and what is the ruling on the prayer of those praying behind him? And can this be overlooked by analogy with the validity of the prayer of one who replaces the letter "ḍād" with "ẓāʾ"?

Scholars have differed concerning one who concludes their prayer with an indeterminate form of "salam" (without the definite article "al-"), meaning "peace." Some scholars permit it, citing its occurrence in the Holy Quran and in some transmitted forms of the tashahhud, and arguing that a nunation (tanween) can substitute for the definite article. Others do not permit it. Some scholars believe that affirming its validity provides ease for people, especially if the indeterminate form of "salam" is common, and they consider it among things that are excused due to the difficulty of avoiding it.