What is the ruling concerning an illiterate person (*Ummī*) leading the prayer?
Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
An illiterate person is one who does not correctly recite Al-Fatiha, or a part of it, or omits a letter, even if they know other parts. It is not permissible for one who knows the recitation to pray behind him, though one like him may pray behind him. This is supported by the statement of Al-Khiraqi specifying that the reciter must repeat the prayer if he leads the illiterate, or if he prays behind an illiterate. Al-Qadi interprets this to mean that if the reciter prays behind the illiterate among a congregation, and after the invalidation of the reciter's prayer, at least two persons remain behind the Imam, the prayer is correct. If only one illiterate person was with the reciter behind the Imam, both must repeat the prayer because the reciter becomes solitary.
Supporting text
Some hold that the reciter's prayer behind the illiterate is valid if the illiterate is on the Imam's right, or if both are on the right, or if there is another illiterate person present. If the reciter's prayer is nullified because he becomes solitary, it is due to another reason, not the act of following an illiterate, which is the position of Malik and Ash-Shafi'i in his later opinion. A differing opinion from Ash-Shafi'i states that the reciter may follow the illiterate in silent prayers but not in audible ones. Another opinion from him permits following in both types of prayers because this is an inability to perform a pillar, which is permissible for the capable person to follow, similar to a seated person leading a standing one. Abu Hanifa states the Imam's prayer is also invalidated because when the reciter joins him, the Imam assumes responsibility for the recitation, and the illiterate is unable to fulfill this responsibility.