How Important Is Correct Pronunciation When Reciting the Quran?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Is it permissible or obligatory to recite the Quran with the historical pronunciation of certain letters, such as pronouncing ض and ج differently from modern Fusha, and does this ruling differ for recitation in prayer versus outside of it?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
It is personally obligatory for every Muslim to learn to pronounce the letters and words of the Quran to the extent that their recitation is free from any major mistakes. [Suwayd; al-Tajwid al-Musawwar]
Major Mistakes
A major mistake (Lahn Jaliyy) is defined as changing a letter to another letter, changing a vowel to another vowel, adding a letter, removing a letter, or stopping/starting in a place that drastically changes the meaning of the verse. [Ibid.]
Note these rulings only apply to reciting the Quran, whether inside or outside of the prayer.
Pronouncing the letter ج (Jim) as a different letter, such as Gim or Yim, is considered a major mistake.
Similarly, the letter ض (dad) is pronounced as ظ (za). Imam Ibn Jazari (Allah have mercy on him), the reference point from Quranic recitation says in his famous poem, the Muqaddima:
وضاد باستطالة ومخرج ميز من الظاء وكلها تجيء
And the letter Dad is to be pronounced with an elongation and from its appropriate place of articulation – so distinguish it from the Za… [Ibn Jazari, al-Muqaddima al-Jazariyya]
Major Mistakes in Prayer
It is obligatory to avoid making major mistakes in the Quran. If one falls into one due to neglecting what is obligatory to learn, they are sinful. If it is due to difficulty, despite striving to learn and practice recitation, they are not sinful. This is the same for inside prayer and outside prayer.
As for major mistakes in prayer, by agreement of the latter-day scholars, it does not affect the validity of the prayer. This is due to widespread ignorance.
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
