If the imam prays with the people and then remembers after the opening takbir that his lower garment is impure, what must he do in this situation?
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The questioner : If the imam prays with the people and then remembers after the opening takbir that his lower garment is impure, what must he do in this situation?
The Shaykh : If the imam prays with the people and then remembers that his lower garment is impure, if he has a garment over it that covers him, he should remove his lower garment and continue his prayer. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray with his Companions while wearing his sandals. Jibril came to him and informed him that there was harm or filth in them, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) removed them and continued his prayer.
Likewise, we say this about anything impure on the one praying that he remembers during his prayer: if he is able to remove it, he should remove it and continue his prayer. However, if he has nothing on him except the lower garment, he cannot remove it. In that case, he should leave his prayer and instruct one of the followers to step forward to complete the prayer with them. This applies whether he remembers this in the first rak'ah or in any subsequent rak'ah. Similarly, if the imam steps forward to lead the people in prayer and then remembers during the prayer that he did not perform wudu, he should leave his prayer and instruct one of the congregation to step forward to complete the prayer with them. It is recommended for a person, if impurity affects him, to hasten to wash it to purify himself from it, so that he does not forget and pray while still wearing it. The evidence for this from the Sunnah is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was brought a small boy who had not yet started eating food. He placed him on his lap, and the boy urinated on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) lap. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called for water and poured it on the urine immediately. When the Bedouin urinated in a part of the mosque, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered a bucket of water to be poured on it. Therefore, it is recommended for a person, if impurity affects him, to hasten to purify himself from it. He should not say, "I will leave it until I perform wudu," because he may forget, and because this impurity may affect a wet part of his body, thereby making it impure. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, esteemed Shaykh. This is Salah Abdullah from Sudan. He sent this message saying:
The Shaykh : If the imam prays with the people and then remembers that his lower garment is impure, if he has a garment over it that covers him, he should remove his lower garment and continue his prayer. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray with his Companions while wearing his sandals. Jibril came to him and informed him that there was harm or filth in them, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) removed them and continued his prayer.
Likewise, we say this about anything impure on the one praying that he remembers during his prayer: if he is able to remove it, he should remove it and continue his prayer. However, if he has nothing on him except the lower garment, he cannot remove it. In that case, he should leave his prayer and instruct one of the followers to step forward to complete the prayer with them. This applies whether he remembers this in the first rak'ah or in any subsequent rak'ah. Similarly, if the imam steps forward to lead the people in prayer and then remembers during the prayer that he did not perform wudu, he should leave his prayer and instruct one of the congregation to step forward to complete the prayer with them. It is recommended for a person, if impurity affects him, to hasten to wash it to purify himself from it, so that he does not forget and pray while still wearing it. The evidence for this from the Sunnah is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was brought a small boy who had not yet started eating food. He placed him on his lap, and the boy urinated on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) lap. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called for water and poured it on the urine immediately. When the Bedouin urinated in a part of the mosque, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered a bucket of water to be poured on it. Therefore, it is recommended for a person, if impurity affects him, to hasten to purify himself from it. He should not say, "I will leave it until I perform wudu," because he may forget, and because this impurity may affect a wet part of his body, thereby making it impure. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, esteemed Shaykh. This is Salah Abdullah from Sudan. He sent this message saying: