A man prayed one rak'ah with the congregation, and in the second rak'ah he remembered that he had not performed wudu'; is the first rak'ah considered valid?

The questioner : A man prayed one rak'ah with the congregation, and in the second rak'ah he remembered that he had not performed wudu'; is the first rak'ah considered valid?

The Shaykh : The question is incorrect; if he left to address the matter, performed wudu', did not turn his back on the Ka'bah, and did not speak to the people, and then came back and built upon it, it is valid. Some schools of jurisprudence state that if one breaks his ritual purity during prayer, he goes to perform wudu' and builds upon what has passed.

The questioner : Even if he broke his ritual purity during the prayer?

The Shaykh : Yes, if he broke his ritual purity during the prayer.

The questioner : Who said that?

The Shaykh : The Hanafis say that.

The questioner : The Hanafis.

The Shaykh: Yes.

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : That is what appears to be the case.

Another questioner : Because the Messenger ... performed ghusl; it appears that he did not turn his back on the qiblah?

The Shaykh : That is what is assumed; because we do not have a clear report of the action of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

Another questioner : Professor, we did not understand the answer.

Another questioner : We did not understand the answer.

Another questioner : It was not clear to us.