If the imam is replaced by another person because his wudu' was broken and he entered the prayer, is the prayer of the ma'mum invalid, and what is the procedure in this case with evidence?
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The questioner : The questioner, Abu Hanifah al-Yamani al-Salafi from Makkah al-Mukarramah, says in this question: If the imam is replaced by another person because his wudu' was broken and he entered the prayer, is the prayer of the ma'mum invalid, and what is the procedure in this case with evidence?
The Shaykh : Yes. If the imam becomes in a state of ritual impurity during the prayer, it is obligatory for him to leave and instruct one of the ma'mum to complete the prayer with them. This ma'mum who completes the prayer builds upon the prayer of the first imam.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For example, if this ma'mum—or rather, if this imam who left had already recited al-Fatihah and ordered someone to step forward to complete the prayer with them, then he does not recite al-Fatihah. This substitute does not recite al-Fatihah unless the first imam had not recited it himself. If so, let him recite it and then complete the prayer. If the imam left after praying two rak'ahs of a four-rak'ah prayer, this substitute completes the remaining two rak'ahs with them, and likewise he completes whatever remains of the first imam's prayer.
Likewise, if the imam entered the prayer with them and then remembered during the prayer that he was not in a state of wudu', he leaves and asks one of the ma'mum to complete the prayer with them. If he does not do so—meaning, if he does not ask one of the ma'mum to complete the prayer with them—then they appoint one of them to complete the prayer with them, pushing one of the men to the front to complete the prayer with them. If they do not do so and complete the prayer individually, there is no blame on them and no harm in that.
The evidence for this is that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), when he was stabbed, ordered 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf to lead the people in prayer. And because the ma'mum entered the prayer on the basis that it was valid and that their imam was not in a state of ritual impurity, if they entered a valid prayer according to the evidence of the Shari'ah, it is not possible to invalidate this prayer except by evidence from the Shari'ah. And there is no evidence that the invalidity of the imam's prayer invalidates the prayer of the ma'mum, except in matters where the imam takes the place of the ma'mum, such as the sutrah. If the imam's sutrah is broken, the imam's sutrah is the sutrah for those behind him, so the invalidity of the imam's prayer due to someone passing in front of him who breaks the prayer also invalidates the prayer of the ma'mum. As for what invalidates the imam's prayer specifically for himself, it does not invalidate the prayer of the ma'mum.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes. If the imam becomes in a state of ritual impurity during the prayer, it is obligatory for him to leave and instruct one of the ma'mum to complete the prayer with them. This ma'mum who completes the prayer builds upon the prayer of the first imam.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For example, if this ma'mum—or rather, if this imam who left had already recited al-Fatihah and ordered someone to step forward to complete the prayer with them, then he does not recite al-Fatihah. This substitute does not recite al-Fatihah unless the first imam had not recited it himself. If so, let him recite it and then complete the prayer. If the imam left after praying two rak'ahs of a four-rak'ah prayer, this substitute completes the remaining two rak'ahs with them, and likewise he completes whatever remains of the first imam's prayer.
Likewise, if the imam entered the prayer with them and then remembered during the prayer that he was not in a state of wudu', he leaves and asks one of the ma'mum to complete the prayer with them. If he does not do so—meaning, if he does not ask one of the ma'mum to complete the prayer with them—then they appoint one of them to complete the prayer with them, pushing one of the men to the front to complete the prayer with them. If they do not do so and complete the prayer individually, there is no blame on them and no harm in that.
The evidence for this is that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), when he was stabbed, ordered 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf to lead the people in prayer. And because the ma'mum entered the prayer on the basis that it was valid and that their imam was not in a state of ritual impurity, if they entered a valid prayer according to the evidence of the Shari'ah, it is not possible to invalidate this prayer except by evidence from the Shari'ah. And there is no evidence that the invalidity of the imam's prayer invalidates the prayer of the ma'mum, except in matters where the imam takes the place of the ma'mum, such as the sutrah. If the imam's sutrah is broken, the imam's sutrah is the sutrah for those behind him, so the invalidity of the imam's prayer due to someone passing in front of him who breaks the prayer also invalidates the prayer of the ma'mum. As for what invalidates the imam's prayer specifically for himself, it does not invalidate the prayer of the ma'mum.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.