Omitting One Verse in the Prayer

Question

At Fajr, the respected imam began Surah al-Fajr after Surah al-Fatiha and, in the course of reciting, left out one verse, “وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَسْرِ” (Surah al-Fajr, 89:4), and then went on to recite the rest of the noble sura. After the prayer was over, some of the people who had joined as muqtadis, being in doubt, prayed again individually, each on his own.

Answer

Because of the verses that the imam left out by forgetfulness in both of these places, the prayer does not become fasid. If an imam of sound creed who knows the rulings can be found, that is a great blessing; but when the whole area is equally remote and there is no one who understands the meaning, then whoever among them is in the best condition should be made imam.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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