What is the ruling on prayer if the imam forgets to sit for the first tashahhud in a four-rak'ah prayer after standing up for the third rak'ah, and the worshippers follow the imam, so he descends to the tashahhud after standing up?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on prayer if the imam forgets to sit for the first tashahhud in a four-rak'ah prayer after standing up for the third rak'ah, and the worshippers follow the imam, so he descends to the tashahhud after standing up?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for the imam or anyone else, if he forgets the first tashahhud and stands up, to go back, as stated in the hadith of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, he should proceed with his prayer and perform the prostration for forgetfulness before the taslim. This is because it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the midday prayer with them, stood up from the two rak'ahs without sitting, and when he finished the prayer and the people were waiting for his taslim, he prostrated two prostrations for forgetfulness and then said the taslim. So if one leaves the first tashahhud by standing up and rising and standing straight, it is forbidden for him to go back, whether he recited or not. However, he should prostrate for forgetfulness before the taslim due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). And if he remembers before he stands up, it is obligatory for him to go back to perform the tashahhud, then complete his prayer.
As for if he leaves the last tashahhud, the last tashahhud is a pillar that must be performed. So if he says the taslim while standing up from the last prostration, forgetting the last tashahhud, we tell him: go back to your prayer, recite the tashahhud, say the taslim, then prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for the imam or anyone else, if he forgets the first tashahhud and stands up, to go back, as stated in the hadith of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, he should proceed with his prayer and perform the prostration for forgetfulness before the taslim. This is because it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the midday prayer with them, stood up from the two rak'ahs without sitting, and when he finished the prayer and the people were waiting for his taslim, he prostrated two prostrations for forgetfulness and then said the taslim. So if one leaves the first tashahhud by standing up and rising and standing straight, it is forbidden for him to go back, whether he recited or not. However, he should prostrate for forgetfulness before the taslim due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). And if he remembers before he stands up, it is obligatory for him to go back to perform the tashahhud, then complete his prayer.
As for if he leaves the last tashahhud, the last tashahhud is a pillar that must be performed. So if he says the taslim while standing up from the last prostration, forgetting the last tashahhud, we tell him: go back to your prayer, recite the tashahhud, say the taslim, then prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.