What if someone at the mosque corrects my prayer?
Thank them, consider what they said, and don't let it discourage you. Most people who correct you mean well, even if they say it clumsily. Sometimes they're right, and sometimes they're simply following a different school of thought from the one you learned.
Correction is part of learning
Even the Companions were corrected. A man once prayed quickly in front of the Prophet ﷺ, who told him to go back and pray again, and then calmly taught him how to pray with stillness in each position (Sahih al-Bukhari 757). Every Muslim learned prayer step by step, and being corrected is a normal part of that, not a sign you've failed.
The Prophet's ﷺ gentle way
Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam spoke during prayer because he didn't know it was forbidden. People glared at him. Afterwards he said he had never seen a better teacher than the Prophet ﷺ, who did not scold him, hit him or insult him, but simply explained that talking isn't part of prayer (Sahih Muslim 537). That is the standard for anyone giving advice, and Allah praised this gentleness:
It might be a difference of opinion
Many "corrections" are about details on which the four schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) differ, such as:
- where to place your hands (on the chest, below the navel, or at your sides),
- whether to raise your hands before and after bowing,
- how to sit in the final tashahhud,
- whether to say "Ameen" aloud.
All of these are valid ways of praying. If someone says you're doing it "wrong", you can politely say, "I learned it this way; I'll check with my teacher." If you're unsure about the basics, see How do I pray as a Muslim?
If it keeps happening or feels harsh
- Ask the imam privately whether the point is a real mistake.
- Set a boundary kindly: "Jazak Allahu khayran, I'm working on it with a teacher."
- Find a supportive community if the atmosphere is constantly critical. See How do I find a convert-friendly mosque?
- Look after yourself. See Can I take a break from the mosque for my mental health?
- Being corrected is a normal part of learning to pray.
- The Prophet ﷺ corrected people gently, without scolding.
- Many corrections are about valid differences between schools.
- Check real mistakes with the imam or a trusted teacher.
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