Is recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha with correct ordering, emphasis (Shaddah), and avoidance of meaning-altering phonetic errors obligatory in prayer?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha must be performed in the correct sequence, with proper emphasis (Shaddah), and free from phonetic errors that change the meaning (lahn muhil). If the sequence is omitted, or if an emphasis is missed, or if a meaning-altering phonetic error occurs—such as mispronouncing the 'kaaf' in 'Iyyaka' with a kasra, the 'taa' in 'An'amta' with a damma, or the initial alif in 'IhDina' with a fatha—the recitation is invalid, unless the person is incapable of reciting it otherwise. This view is held by Al-Qadi in Al-Mujarrad and is the position of the Shafi'i school.
Supporting text
Al-Qadi, in Al-Jami', stated that omitting an emphasis does not invalidate the prayer because the emphasis is not fixed in the orthography of the Mushaf; it is merely a characteristic of the letter, and one who omits it is still considered a reciter. However, the former position is stronger because a letter with a Shaddah stands for two letters, evidenced by how the Shaddah on the 'Raa' in 'Ar-Rahman' and the Shaddah on the 'Laam' in 'Alladhina' substitute for a necessary component. Omitting it thus compromises the letter and what it substitutes for, altering the meaning. An exception exists if the reciter merely fails to assimilate (Idgham), such as pronouncing 'Ar-Rahman' without the assimilation, which is considered a phonetic error that does not change the meaning, and the prayer remains valid.