copyright © 2002, abouttajweed.com, all rights reserved

Question

Assalaamu alaikum.  Would anyone there have a suggestion or a comment about a problem that can occur to a student of tajweed in the month of Ramadhan?  In Taraaweeh prayers, many of us women who do not normally go to the Mosque for prayer, go there in this month.  Some of us may find ourselves noticing the Imam's tajweed, may Allah reward them for leading us in prayer, instead of remembering Allah, subhanahu wa ta'aala and pondering the meaning of the words.  This would not be in the right spirit of the prayer I would think - would you have any comment for us about this?  This is not a tajweed question as such but I thought you might have something to say about this problem...insha Allah!

Jazakum Allahu khair!

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.

May Allah reward all the imams for their efforts and especially in the month of Ramadhan.  They fast during the day, then soon after having their iftar, which must be quite light so they don't feel heavy, they then lead the Muslim community in taraweeh prayers.  In the last ten days of Ramadhan, for most of them, they also lead the tahajjud prayers.  They have a great responsibility and spend a great deal of time reviewing the Qur'an for the prayer.  Many, may Allah reward them with the highest Paradise, lose their voices by the end of the month from all their striving.

 The imam is a human just like the rest of us, and of course there will be some days when their reading is better than other days, just as we are stronger and able to do more some days than others.  If the imam makes a mistake in tajweed, we need to remember that we also make mistakes.  We should attend the taraweeh prayers with the intention of earning the great reward of qiyaam with the imam, and listen to the words of Allah. 

Of course, we are sure that all know that backbiting about the imam is totally wrong, and any mistakes should be overlooked and excuses given.  There should not be discussions among the followers of his tajweed mistakes, as this would clearly be not acceptable.  If the imam makes a mistake that changes the meaning of the Qur'an and is not corrected, a man can tell him, and a woman can write a note and have their mahram give it to the imam so he can be aware of his mistake  (see  http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=8686&dgn=3 ).

If a woman finds herself picking out the imam's mistakes instead of concentrating on the meaning of the Qur'an, she has the option of praying in her home.