If two witnesses attest to the imam’s error

Question

One day in the Fajr prayer I confused two similar passages (mutashabih): in one place it is “أَهَـٰنَنِ” and in the other “أَكْرَمَنِ” (Surah al-Fajr, 89:15–16). As far as I recall, I recited correctly. But two of our muqtadis, Ramzani and the respected Hafiz ‘Abd al-Hamid, say that “أهانن” was recited in both places. Was the prayer valid or not?

Answer

If the imam has no firm certainty but rather doubt, and two reliable (mu‘tabar) muqtadis say that it was recited incorrectly, then the prayer should be repeated, accepting their word as reliable.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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