Is it disliked for a person praying to correct the recitation of another person who is also praying or someone not praying?
Chapter on the Two Prostrations of Forgetfulness
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is disliked for one who is engaged in prayer to correct the recitation of another person who is also praying, or to correct one who is not praying. This is because such an action distracts the person praying from their prayer. The Prophet, peace be upon him, stated, "Indeed, in prayer there is a preoccupation (shaghal)." When Imam Ahmad was asked about a man sitting before a person praying, reading, and the praying person correcting him if he made a mistake, Imam Ahmad expressed astonishment at such an inquiry.
Supporting text
If the correction is performed despite the dislike, the prayer of the corrector is not invalidated because the act involves Quranic recitation, and the intention was recitation, not addressing a human being with something else.