The imam forgot to recite al-Fatihah and made up for it with a rak'ah that the ma'mumun thought was the fifth, so they differed with him
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The first question of fatwa number ( 19635 )
Q1: In one of the mosques, the congregation prayed the 'Isha' prayer. When the imam stood up for the fourth rak'ah, he remembered that he had not recited al-Fatihah in the third, so he annulled the third and made the fourth the third. The congregation behind him did not know about this. When he stood up for the fourth, which the ma'mumun thought was the fifth, the ma'mumun divided into two groups: some stood up with him, some sat down waiting for the imam to sit so they could say the taslim with him, and some sat down, recited the tashahhud, and said the taslim while the imam was still standing. After the imam said the taslim, he informed the congregation of what had happened and ordered those who had not stood up with him for the final rak'ah, which the ma'mumun thought was the fifth, to perform a rak'ah and prostrate for forgetfulness. What is the correct answer in this matter? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.
A1: What this imam said is correct. It is obligatory for the ma'mumun who did not stand up with him in the rak'ah that completes the prayer to perform a rak'ah after his taslim and prostrate for forgetfulness. Their prayer is valid, if Allah wills, because they did not
intentionally lag behind him; rather, their lagging behind was due to their belief that he had stood up for the fifth rak'ah out of forgetfulness. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: In one of the mosques, the congregation prayed the 'Isha' prayer. When the imam stood up for the fourth rak'ah, he remembered that he had not recited al-Fatihah in the third, so he annulled the third and made the fourth the third. The congregation behind him did not know about this. When he stood up for the fourth, which the ma'mumun thought was the fifth, the ma'mumun divided into two groups: some stood up with him, some sat down waiting for the imam to sit so they could say the taslim with him, and some sat down, recited the tashahhud, and said the taslim while the imam was still standing. After the imam said the taslim, he informed the congregation of what had happened and ordered those who had not stood up with him for the final rak'ah, which the ma'mumun thought was the fifth, to perform a rak'ah and prostrate for forgetfulness. What is the correct answer in this matter? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.
A1: What this imam said is correct. It is obligatory for the ma'mumun who did not stand up with him in the rak'ah that completes the prayer to perform a rak'ah after his taslim and prostrate for forgetfulness. Their prayer is valid, if Allah wills, because they did not
intentionally lag behind him; rather, their lagging behind was due to their belief that he had stood up for the fifth rak'ah out of forgetfulness. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.