Answered by Shaykh Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
Is it correct to join the 5th and 6th ayat in the following manner: “iyya ka nasta’eenuhdi nasiraat” instead of “iyya ka nasta’een(u) ihdi nasiraat.” (i.e. by joining the nun to the haa and missing the alif?) If incorrect is the salat also invalid, if the imam recites as such?
wa ‘alaykum as salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
The first letter in the verse ihdinassirat al-mustaqim is called the enabling hamza (hamzat al-wasl). This letter is distinct from the letter alif and takes different rulings during one’s recitation.
The enabling hamza is so called because it “enables one to pronounce an unvowellized letter” (yuwassalu bihi ila al-nutqi bi al-sakin). The word ihdina is an imperative verb (fi’l amr), which is formed by omitting the first letter of the corresponding verb in the imperfect tense (fi’l mudari’). Sometimes, when one does this, the first letter in the word ends up being an unvowellized (sakin) letter. It is impossible to start with a sakin letter, so an enabling hamza is inserted.
However, this hamza should be dispensed with when one does not begin reciting at this word, but instead joins this word with a previous word. In the example mentioned in the question, if one does not stop at iyyaka nasta’in, and continues reciting, then one will dispense with the enabling hamza at the beginning of the verse ihdinassirata’l-mustaqim, and instead recite: iyyaka nasta’inu-hdinassirata’l-mustaqim.
The upshot, then, is that if one begins reciting at iyyaka nasta’in, one must pronounce the enabling hamza. If one does not start reciting at this verse but instead continues from the previous verse, one should omit this hamza and instead recite iyyaka nasta’inu-hdinassirata’l-mustaqim (i.e., join the nun with the ha, as you mention in your question). Both methods are correct ways of reciting Surat al-Fatiha.
Note, though, that there is a shadda (or tashdid) on the letter sad when you recite ihdina’l-ssirata’l-mustaqim, and you seem to have omitted it in your transliteration. This shadda must be recited and omitting it will result in an invalid recitation of the Fatiha.
And Allah knows best.