If the imam forgets and prays Maghrib with two rak'ahs, then says the closing salam, he should perform the third rak'ah and prostrate for forgetfulness
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 16837 )
Q2: On one night, we prayed Maghrib, and the imam said the closing salam after two rak'ahs. He wanted to repeat the prayer from the beginning, so I said: "One rak'ah is sufficient." He said: "We want to repeat it." What is better: repeating the prayer or praying one rak'ah?
A2: If a person misses a rak'ah of the Maghrib prayer due to forgetfulness, he should stand and perform the rak'ah, then recite the final tashahhud, then say the closing salam, then prostrate twice for forgetfulness, and then say the closing salam. He should not repeat the entire prayer, because he did not intentionally leave out the rak'ah. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the closing salam while missing a part of some prayers, he was then reminded, so he completed what was missing, said the closing salam, and prostrated for forgetfulness, without repeating the prayer. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[Al-Ahzab 33:21] the verse, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6008 , narrated by al-Bukhari in (his Sahih). However, if the interval becomes long by custom, it is obligatory for the imam and those with him to repeat the prayer. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: On one night, we prayed Maghrib, and the imam said the closing salam after two rak'ahs. He wanted to repeat the prayer from the beginning, so I said: "One rak'ah is sufficient." He said: "We want to repeat it." What is better: repeating the prayer or praying one rak'ah?
A2: If a person misses a rak'ah of the Maghrib prayer due to forgetfulness, he should stand and perform the rak'ah, then recite the final tashahhud, then say the closing salam, then prostrate twice for forgetfulness, and then say the closing salam. He should not repeat the entire prayer, because he did not intentionally leave out the rak'ah. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the closing salam while missing a part of some prayers, he was then reminded, so he completed what was missing, said the closing salam, and prostrated for forgetfulness, without repeating the prayer. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌoffer your prayers in the way you saw me offering my prayers
صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.