Salah behind an Imam who does not recite the Qur'an with Tajweed

Q. Is Salah performed behind an Imam who does not read the Qur'an (with Tajweed) valid?

A. Tajweed is the pronunciation of the letters of the Qur'an, from their makhaarij (places from which the pronunciation of a letter comes) with all their sifaat (qualities). Substituting one letter for another letter in pronunciation can change the meaning of a word or verse. Therefore, the Imaamat of a person who does not read the Qur'an with Tajweed in the presence of a person who can recite the Qur'an with Tajweed is not valid. Moreover, his Salah and also that of the Muqtadis (those who perform Salah behind an Imam) are not valid. However, the Salah is valid if there is no one among the Muqtadis who can recite the Qur'an better.

Q. Can a person who does not recite the Qur'an with Tajweed do Imaamat?

R. Such a person may do the Imaamat if there is no one who can recite the Qur'an better than him.

[English version of "La Salaah derrière un Imam qui ne lit pas correctement le Qour'aan (avec Tajwîd‎‎‎)" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 3]