What is the ruling if the worshippers alert the imam to his mistake?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: Is there a detailed explanation regarding when the imam is alerted to a mistake he made in the prayer? In the following cases: first, if the person behind him who alerts him is a young man; and second, if among the worshippers behind him, some are certain and some are not. What is the ruling for the imam in this case? It is known that people differ, some are trustworthy and some are not.
The Shaykh : Yes. If the Muslims alert him, and the one alerting him is a trustworthy person whose voice he recognizes as trustworthy, and the imam is not certain of the contrary, then he must return to his statement. If someone says, "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not return to the statement of the man with two hands," we say that this is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) believed that he was doing well. Therefore, he returned to the Companions. So, if a trustworthy person alerts him, and he knows that the person is trustworthy and his voice is that of a young man, he must return to his statement. However, if the imam is certain of the contrary to what the one alerting him said, then he should follow his own correctness and leave the statement of the one who alerted him. As for the second point, if those who alert him differ. If those who alert him differ, for example, they say to him, "Subhan Allah," and the others say, "Subhan Allah," meaning they want him to sit, and those who alert him differ regarding whether he should stand or sit? We say: If he knows that the last one is the trustworthy person and the first one is doubtful, then he should follow the statement of the last one, who is the trustworthy person, and disregard the statement of the doubtful one. However, if both are trustworthy and they differ regarding him, then he should follow what is in his heart, meaning the two statements cancel each other out, and it becomes as if nothing happened. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
The Shaykh : Yes. If the Muslims alert him, and the one alerting him is a trustworthy person whose voice he recognizes as trustworthy, and the imam is not certain of the contrary, then he must return to his statement. If someone says, "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not return to the statement of the man with two hands," we say that this is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) believed that he was doing well. Therefore, he returned to the Companions. So, if a trustworthy person alerts him, and he knows that the person is trustworthy and his voice is that of a young man, he must return to his statement. However, if the imam is certain of the contrary to what the one alerting him said, then he should follow his own correctness and leave the statement of the one who alerted him. As for the second point, if those who alert him differ. If those who alert him differ, for example, they say to him, "Subhan Allah," and the others say, "Subhan Allah," meaning they want him to sit, and those who alert him differ regarding whether he should stand or sit? We say: If he knows that the last one is the trustworthy person and the first one is doubtful, then he should follow the statement of the last one, who is the trustworthy person, and disregard the statement of the doubtful one. However, if both are trustworthy and they differ regarding him, then he should follow what is in his heart, meaning the two statements cancel each other out, and it becomes as if nothing happened. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
Source
دروس وفتاوى المسجد الحرام لعام 1413 هـ - 14 — binothaimeen.net (1:06:26)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.