The Manner of the Prostration for Forgetfulness
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Fatwa number ( 4520 )
Q: A disagreement arose among a group whose imam made a mistake in his prayer by adding a fifth rak'ah to a four-rak'ah prayer. Some of them remained sitting until the imam came to the extra rak'ah, and they testified to the oneness of Allah with him and concluded the prayer with him when he did so, without following him. Others stood up with him while knowing about the addition, and others were in doubt about the addition and stood up with him. I ask you, may Allah preserve you, to issue a ruling on what the ma'mum should do if such a thing happens in the future, and may Allah preserve you?
A: If a ma'mum knows that his imam has stood up to perform an extra rak'ah, such as a fifth in a four-rak'ah prayer, he should remind him. If the imam returns to his seat, that is fine; otherwise, the ma'mum should sit and wait for the imam until he concludes the prayer with his taslim. Accordingly, the prayer of the person mentioned in the question who sat until the imam concluded the prayer with his taslim is valid. As for the one who stood up with the imam and followed him while knowing it was an addition and knowing the Shari'ah ruling that following him is not permissible, his prayer is invalid because following is not permissible, and he must repeat it. As for the one who knows that the prayer was not completed, or who is in doubt about its completion or deficiency, he must follow the imam to complete his prayer with him. Accordingly, the prayer of the person mentioned in the question who stood up with the imam while in doubt is valid, as is the prayer of the one who knew the prayer was deficient and stood up to complete it with him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A disagreement arose among a group whose imam made a mistake in his prayer by adding a fifth rak'ah to a four-rak'ah prayer. Some of them remained sitting until the imam came to the extra rak'ah, and they testified to the oneness of Allah with him and concluded the prayer with him when he did so, without following him. Others stood up with him while knowing about the addition, and others were in doubt about the addition and stood up with him. I ask you, may Allah preserve you, to issue a ruling on what the ma'mum should do if such a thing happens in the future, and may Allah preserve you?
A: If a ma'mum knows that his imam has stood up to perform an extra rak'ah, such as a fifth in a four-rak'ah prayer, he should remind him. If the imam returns to his seat, that is fine; otherwise, the ma'mum should sit and wait for the imam until he concludes the prayer with his taslim. Accordingly, the prayer of the person mentioned in the question who sat until the imam concluded the prayer with his taslim is valid. As for the one who stood up with the imam and followed him while knowing it was an addition and knowing the Shari'ah ruling that following him is not permissible, his prayer is invalid because following is not permissible, and he must repeat it. As for the one who knows that the prayer was not completed, or who is in doubt about its completion or deficiency, he must follow the imam to complete his prayer with him. Accordingly, the prayer of the person mentioned in the question who stood up with the imam while in doubt is valid, as is the prayer of the one who knew the prayer was deficient and stood up to complete it with him. 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.