Pauses While Reciting Al-Fatihah

23-11-2021 | IslamWeb

Question:

I read in a Fatwa that the recitation of the al fatiha is invalidated if you make a too long pause while reading it. How long is that pause and is the ruling the same for other parts of Salah? When i feel that i mispronounced something i sometimes take a short break probably not more than 10 seconds to decide whether it's just waswas or an actual mistake, does that invalidat the recitation?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

This length that nullifies Al-Fatihah and prevents continuity [in reciting it] depends on the custom. The short pause like the aforementioned seconds, and even what is more than that, does not harm.

Moreover, a long interruption in other than Al-Fatihah and the Tashahhud does not harm, as stated by the jurists.

Ash-Sherbeeni said:

“Its issue – meaning the statement of An-Nawawi in al-Minhaaj – is that continuity is not a condition – i.e. in Tashahhud – but the most preponderant opinion is that it is an obligation as in at-Tatimah. Ibn ar-Rif’ah said: ‘It is by analogy to what has already been discussed about Al-Fatihah.” [End of quote]

You have to repel these whispers, not pay any attention to them, and not give in to them, for giving in to them will lead you to a great evil.

Allah knows best.