The imam bowed, but some of the congregation did not hear, and a problem arose in the prayer

The questioner : Hello, yes. Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : Peace be upon you.

The questioner : Honorable Shaykh Muhammad, and by Allah, I have three questions, if Your Eminence would allow us to ask them, regarding the midday prayer.

The Shaykh : I will listen to you if you want, but only for two questions.

The questioner : For two questions, go ahead, my brother. The first question and the second question, go ahead. In the midday prayer, in the fourth unit, the imam bowed without raising his voice for the takbir, so none of the congregation bowed. Then the imam raised his head, and some of the worshippers bowed, while others remained standing. At that point, the imam said the takbir and remained standing for a moment, then bowed again, and the worshippers bowed. Then he prostrated for forgetfulness before the closing salam, two prostrations. Is there anything wrong with our prayer?

The Shaykh : What I understood from you just now is that the imam raised his head twice, like this.

The questioner : It was the bowing without the takbir.

The Shaykh : He bowed in the takbir and said, "Allah hears the one who praises Him."

The questioner : And he raised his head from the bowing and said, "Allah hears the one who praises Him," so some of the believers bowed and others remained standing.

The Shaykh : Some of the believers bowed and then followed the imam.

The questioner : Then he followed the imam, then he raised his head, meaning the follower raised his head, meaning some of the followers remained standing and others bowed when the imam said, "Allah hears the one who praises Him."

The Shaykh : The one who raised his head when the imam said, "Allah hears the one who praises Him," did he raise his head after that and follow the imam? Well, his prayer is valid. The other two

The questioner : No, Your Eminence, when the imam bowed, he bowed without raising his voice for the takbir.

The Shaykh : I understood, my man, I understood, may Allah bless you. The imam bowed and the followers did not hear his takbir, then he said, "Allah hears the one who praises Him," so the people divided into two groups. One group bowed, raised their heads, and followed the imam; their prayer is valid. The second group remained standing. What did they do after that?

The questioner : The imam said the takbir while standing after he said, "Allah hears the one who praises Him," and remained standing for a moment, then bowed again.

The Shaykh : The imam bowed twice? Why would he bow twice? This is a mistake by the imam.

The questioner : That is what happened. Yes.

The Shaykh : But considering that he is ignorant, we hope that there is nothing required of him.

The questioner : And the reassuring thing.

The Shaykh : You say that the others bowed with him, those who did not bow at first bowed with him.

The questioner : All the worshippers bowed after that.

The Shaykh : Well, in any case, these people are ignorant. I hope there is nothing required of them.

The questioner : Meaning we do not repeat the prayer.

The Shaykh : Listen, as long as they are ignorant, I hope there is nothing required of them because they do not know the ruling, but I will tell you the ruling now.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : It is obligatory that when the imam raised his head, the followers who knew that he had bowed should bow, then raise their heads and follow him, and this happened with some of them. As for the imam bowing again, that is a mistake. And this indicates that he is ignorant. It is obligatory for the imam to continue in his prayer, and it is obligatory for the others who stood to do as their brothers did, bow and then follow the imam.