Those who do not distinguish between the pronunciation of the letters (ض) (dhaa) and (ظ) (th-haa)

(A questioner) is asking about those who do not distinguish between the pronunciation of the letters (ض) (dhaa) and (ظ) (th-haa) and wish for (your) advice. And is this act of theirs considered an error or not?

Shaikh Ibn Baz رحمه الله:

Many people are incapable of distinguishing between the letters (ض) (dhaa) and (ظ) (th-haa), so they are to be forgiven for that and are not harmed by that, and their recitation is correct and so is their prayer, and all praise is for Allaah. For Allaah (جل وعلا) says:

فاتقوا الله ما استطعتم

So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can. [Qur'an, 64:16]

And this is a comprehensive principle. Allaah (سبحانه) says:

لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها

Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope. [Qur'an, 2:286]

And He (جل وعلا ) says:

يريد الله بكم اليسر

Allaah intends for ease. [Qur'an, 2:185]

And the Hafith Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) has openly addressed this issue in his tafseer and has mentioned that the most correct statement from the statements of the people of knowledge (regarding this issue) is that they allow it and (see) no harm in it.

Translated: AbdulAlee Al-Maghribi