The ruling on the imam's prayer if he leads the people without wudu, and the ruling on the prayer of the followers
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If a person leads the prayer in his mosque as imam while he is not in a state of ritual purity, what is the ruling on the prayer of the followers? Are they required to repeat it? And is he sinful because of their prayer?
If a person leads the prayer as imam while he is not in a state of ritual purity, then if he did so intentionally, he is sinful, and it is obligatory for him to repeat his prayer, and to repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness. And if he was ignorant, such as if he ate meat and did not know that it was camel meat, and then it became clear to him after the prayer that it was camel meat, then he is not sinful, but he must repeat the prayer; because he prayed without wudu.
Likewise, if he was forgetful, as if he had broken his wudu and forgot to perform wudu, then he prayed, and then he remembered; then he is not sinful, but it is obligatory for him to perform wudu and repeat the prayer.
As for the followers, they are never required to repeat the prayer, and they are not sinful; because they only have the appearance to rely on, and this man led them as imam appearing to be in a state of purity, and that there was no impediment to his prayer, so they are excused; because they did what is obligatory upon them and nothing is required of them, even if it is assumed that he remembered during the prayer that he was in a state of ritual impurity, he should leave and tell some of the followers: Complete the prayer for them.
And they complete the prayer they started with an imam in a state of ritual impurity, and nothing is required of them.
If a person leads the prayer as imam while he is not in a state of ritual purity, then if he did so intentionally, he is sinful, and it is obligatory for him to repeat his prayer, and to repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness. And if he was ignorant, such as if he ate meat and did not know that it was camel meat, and then it became clear to him after the prayer that it was camel meat, then he is not sinful, but he must repeat the prayer; because he prayed without wudu.
Likewise, if he was forgetful, as if he had broken his wudu and forgot to perform wudu, then he prayed, and then he remembered; then he is not sinful, but it is obligatory for him to perform wudu and repeat the prayer.
As for the followers, they are never required to repeat the prayer, and they are not sinful; because they only have the appearance to rely on, and this man led them as imam appearing to be in a state of purity, and that there was no impediment to his prayer, so they are excused; because they did what is obligatory upon them and nothing is required of them, even if it is assumed that he remembered during the prayer that he was in a state of ritual impurity, he should leave and tell some of the followers: Complete the prayer for them.
And they complete the prayer they started with an imam in a state of ritual impurity, and nothing is required of them.