If an imam in the tarawih prayer says the closing salam after one rak'ah by mistake, what should he do?
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The questioner : He says: If an imam in the tarawih prayer says the closing salam after one rak'ah by mistake, what should he do? Should he make it the witr prayer, or what should he do, considering that the ma'mum did not alert him until he had already said the salam?
The Shaykh : If the imam says the salam after the first rak'ah and then the ma'mum remind him, it is obligatory for him to stand up, complete the prayer with one rak'ah, and perform the prostration for forgetfulness after the salam. It is not permissible for him to make it the witr prayer, because he did not intend the witr from the beginning. But on the contrary, in the opposite case, if the imam stands up for a third rak'ah in the tarawih prayer and the people remind him, should he continue or go back? He must go back. If he continues, his prayer is invalid. He must go back, recite the tashahhud, and say the salam, then prostrate twice after the salam and say the salam. Yes.
The Shaykh : If the imam says the salam after the first rak'ah and then the ma'mum remind him, it is obligatory for him to stand up, complete the prayer with one rak'ah, and perform the prostration for forgetfulness after the salam. It is not permissible for him to make it the witr prayer, because he did not intend the witr from the beginning. But on the contrary, in the opposite case, if the imam stands up for a third rak'ah in the tarawih prayer and the people remind him, should he continue or go back? He must go back. If he continues, his prayer is invalid. He must go back, recite the tashahhud, and say the salam, then prostrate twice after the salam and say the salam. Yes.