Question Summary:
Making mistakes in Surah Fātihah in Salāh.

Question Detail:

 
 
I do have waswaas which I am trying to eradicate in shaa' Allah. Recently, I thought that in the last ayah of Al-Fatihah, the second "Daad" in the ayah was a Daal for some reason; so I tried to recite it like Daal, because I was ignorant of it actually being a Daad. As I was ignorant about it being a Daad is it required of me to re-perform these prayers or is it an acceptable mistake?
 
I have heard before that some mistakes whilst reciting that do not alter the meaning of Al-Fatihah is acceptable, is this correct? Also, if it is not difficult for you then can you show me what mistakes in Al-Fatihah is acceptable.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Your concern for Salāh and your query with regards to its validity is a sign of your Īmān. Performance of Salāh is a great favour from Allāh. Shaytān, being our enemy, is always in search of ways of preventing us from every kind of ‘Ibādah and obedience to Allāh. He tries to create doubts and uncertainty in our minds regarding matters of ‘Ibādah and faith. Your doubts regarding the validity of your Salāh and your recital of ‘Daal’ in place ‘Daad’ is merely Waswasa (insinuation) from Shaytān.
You should dispel these doubts and continue with your Salāh. Forget about the doubts regarding previous Salāhs and focus on perfecting the recitation of the Qur’ān. Try to overcome your problem of Waswasa through medical treatment as soon as possible.
Seek the help of a local Ālim in learning and perfecting the recitation of the Qur’ān especially those Surahs that you usually recite in Salāh.
The mistakes in Al-Fatihah that will nullify Salāh cannot be quantified or listed. However, as a principle, such a mistake that alters the meaning of the Qur’ān to such an extent that it directly leads to creating a meaning that contradicts the beliefs of Shari’ah will invalidate the Salāh.[1] For this you will have to refer to an Ālim in your locality. Nonetheless, in your present case, you are merely having insinuations which you should not give any heed to.  
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Nabeel Valli
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net