The one with poor recitation should not be made the Imaam - especially when the meaning changes

Praying behind the one who makes apparent and clear mistakes while reciting the Qur’aan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Question: Some scholars are reported to have said that the one who makes clear and obvious mistakes while reciting the Qur’aan, like substituting the letter (like ز instead of ذ, س instead of ث), or changing the vowel sound, or leaving al-Madd al-waajib (the compulsory prolongation) etc., then it is not proper to pray behind the one who does so. Please advise us in this regards.

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله:

The mistakes are of two types: 1) the mistake which alters the meaning. In this regards, the Imaam should be notified so that he corrects his recitation. Example: reciting

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ

{The path of those upon whom “YOU” have bestowed favor} [Surah al-Faatihah (1): 7]

Reciting أَنعَمتَ (an-`amta) as أَنعَمتُ (an-`amtu) (so the meaning changes to: The path of those upon whom “I” have bestowed favor) or أَنعَمتِ (an-`amti), this is a major mistake, he should be advised so that he corrects his recitation; or reciting إِيَّاكَ (iyyaaka) as إِيَّاكِ (iyyaaki) changing the gender (from masculine to feminine), he should be advised so that he corrects his recitation.

2) As for the mistakes which do not change the meaning, like doing Idhhaar in place of Ikhfaa (hiding) or Idghaam (blending); or doing Idghaam in place of Idhhaar, then this does not affect and does not change the meaning. This does not necessitates that one should stay away from praying (behind this Imaam). Rather this is from the matters of beautifying and adorning the recitation. Similarly, al-Madd al-Muttasil and al-Madd al-laazim (the obligatory prolongation), applying the Madd is from perfecting the recitiation, but not doing so does not harm it nor does it change the meaning.

Therefore the questioner should not press hard in this matter and should not exceed the limits. Tawjeed is from the matters of beautifying the recitation. It is not from the matters of binding obligations, rather only for the beautification of the recitation, proper articulation and strengthening it. If one recites in `Arabic and the meaning does not change, then there is nothing wrong with it. If he recites “al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbil-`aalameen” as “al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbul-`aalameen” or “al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbal-`aalameen”, then this does not harm it. But when he recites it as “al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbil-`aalameen”, then this is the recital which is known, and the reciter should take care of (reciting it correctly). Similarly, if a person does the Idhhaar in place of Idghaam, or Idghaam in place of Idhhaar, or Idhhaar in place of Ikhfaa’, then this does not affect the meaning. It is not appropriate that one should be stern in this matter. Rather, he should advise and strive in correcting the recitation of his brother, and he (should be taught to) recite it with Tajweed so that his recitation is beautified, perfected and is in accordance with the rules of Tajweed.

Source: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/14630