Grand Ayatollah Shirazi: Proper Pronunciation of Arabic Letters in Prayer Not Mandatory Unless Meaning Changes
The daily scholarly session of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Sunday, the 16th of Rabi’ al-Thani. During this session, as in previous meetings, the Supreme Marja addressed attendees’ questions regarding various jurisprudential issues.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi discussed the necessity of adhering to the rules of Tajweed (the art of reciting the Quran) and the correct pronunciation of letters in prayer. He clarified that while Tajweed means reciting beautifully, its observance in prayer is not obligatory, except for few specific cases where consensus has been claimed.
His Eminence referenced the elongation in “وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ” (and not the misguided) and the rule of “یَرملون” indicating that in these instances, consensus has been reported, and if accepted, adherence is obligatory. However, in other cases, observing Tajweed is not required.
The supreme religious authority also mentioned how some non-Arab companions of the Imams (peace be upon them) prayed, noting that many non-Arabs were among the best companions. He pointed out that it has never been reported that an Imam asked any of his companions to read Surah Al-Fatiha to assess their recitation.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized that the complete pronunciation of Arabic letters and their articulation in prayer is not obligatory as long as it does not alter the meaning. He added that correct pronunciation is recommended, and minor variations, such as Bilal’s pronunciation in the Adhan (call to prayer), are considered exceptions, and the prayer remains valid.
