16th February 2022
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: I have a case where I’m the only Muslim with this disorder. Only 1% of the human population has this disorder. I reverted 2 months ago and haven’t missed a single prayer, Alhamdulillah. But I’m afraid this stutter is going to mess with my Iman. I have a neurological stammer and I struggle with some words in Salah. Sometimes words don’t even come out in Salah. I’m depressed and it takes me 20min (sometimes more) to pray fajr. I’m terrified that my prayers aren’t accepted because of this and I need a ruling on my disorder because there’s no ruling on it. Such as I say Alawatu instead of Salawatu and Irata instead of Sirata and much more. Should I carry on in this manner? Or should I struggle my hardest to say the word. Should I repeat the words if I don’t say it properly or just carry on with the prayer. This neurological stammer is really affecting my life. Outside when I start working it takes me 20-30 min to pray each prayer. Salah Is supposed to take maximum 5-10 minutes and it’s supposed to be peaceful. Please advise.
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
We cordially congratulate you for your steadfastness and zeal for Ibadah and pray that Allāh Almighty creates ease for you, Ameen. Concerning your problem, it is important to understand that Allāh Almighty has created everyone with different abilities and strengths, and He tests his creation differently in accordance to their natural strength. A believer is rewarded on the account of their patience, struggle and steadfastness. In your case, struggling with recitation is also a reward for you. The Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “An expert in the Quran will be in the company of the noble and pious angels, and the one who stutters and recites and it is difficult upon him (to recite correctly in spite of excessive attempts to recite correctly) will receive double reward.”[1]
As for your Salāh is concerned, then primarily the recitation must be in Arabic even if it requires some struggle. There is no need for you to worry about your previous prayers after exerting all of your best efforts as the Qur’an states that “Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear.”[2] If the struggle is so severe that you are unable to recite in Arabic then there is scope of permissibility to recite in a language you are familiar with.[3] You may follow this ruling temporarily to assist you until you are able to recite fluently in Arabic, otherwise if you can recite even a small portion then you must recite in Arabic despite the stammer. As for leading the Salāh then you must avoid doing so,[4] because one of the conditions of leading includes being able to recite fluently as the Imam is responsible for the Salāh of the congregants.
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Mufti Anas Mullah Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Pg. 269
باب فضيلة حافظ القران
عن عائشة قالت قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الماهر بالقرآن مع السفرة الكرام البررة والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له أجران
[2] Quran [2:286]
[3] Fatawa Hindiyya, Kitābul Salaah, Bāb fi shurut as salaah, vol 1 p.69
وأما حد القراءة فنقول تصحيح الحروف أمر لا بد منه فإن صحح الحروف بلسانه ولم يسمع نفسه لا يجوز وبه أخذ عامة المشايخ هكذا في المحيط وهو المختار. هكذا في السراجية وهو الصحيح. هكذا في النقاية وعلى هذا نحو التسمية على الذبيحة والاستثناء في اليمين والطلاق والعتاق والإيلاء والبيع.
ولا تجوز القراءة بالفارسية إلا بعذر عند أبي يوسف ومحمد رحمهما الله وبه يفتى.
[4] Ibn Nujaym, Al Bahr al Raa’iq, Kitābul Salaah, Bāb al imamah, Al Ahaqqu bil imamah fis Salaah vol 1 p.368
قوله ثم الأقرأ) محتمل لشيئين أحدهما أن يكون المراد به أحفظهم للقرآن وهو المتبادر، الثاني أحسنهم تلاوة للقرآن باعتبار تجويد قراءته وترتيلها وقد اقتصر العلامة تلميذ المحقق ابن الهمام في شرح زاد الفقير عليه