The Obligation of the Imam Who Is in Doubt to Respond to the Congregation When They Alert Him
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
I am the imam of a mosque and I lead the congregation in prayer. Once, during a four-rak'ah prayer, I forgot whether I was in the third or the fourth rak'ah. Should I consider the tasbih of the congregation behind me as a guide indicating that I am in the fourth, for example?
Yes.
If the imam is in doubt whether he prayed three or four rak'ahs, and then he stands up and the congregation recites tasbih for him, while he is not certain of his own correctness, it is obligatory for him to return to their tasbih.
As for if they do not recite tasbih, he should proceed based on what is most likely in his mind. So, if it is most likely in your mind that you prayed three rak'ahs, then perform the fourth, and then prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim. If they alert you when you stand for the fourth, sit down and do not stand for the fourth; sit down, because you do not have certainty like their certainty.
Yes.
If the imam is in doubt whether he prayed three or four rak'ahs, and then he stands up and the congregation recites tasbih for him, while he is not certain of his own correctness, it is obligatory for him to return to their tasbih.
As for if they do not recite tasbih, he should proceed based on what is most likely in his mind. So, if it is most likely in your mind that you prayed three rak'ahs, then perform the fourth, and then prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim. If they alert you when you stand for the fourth, sit down and do not stand for the fourth; sit down, because you do not have certainty like their certainty.