If the imam forgets and says the closing salam after one unit in the Tarawih prayer, what is the ruling?
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The questioner : He says: If the imam forgets and says the closing salam after one unit in the Tarawih prayer, for example, what is the ruling?
The Shaykh : If he says the closing salam after one unit in the Tarawih prayer, the ruling is that he must complete it. If they remind him, he comes and performs one unit and says the closing salam, then he prostrates for forgetfulness after the salam. This is because listen to the story his soul did not expand and his chest did not open up. Why? Because the act of worship was not completed, even though he himself believed it was complete. But this is an inner secret: when it was not completed, his soul contracted, peace and blessings be upon him. Abu Bakr and 'Umar, his closest companions, were afraid to speak to him because he was in this state, meaning a terrifying appearance. because his arms are long, and the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, is playful; he spreads his hand to his companion and brings him joy. Yes.
And for this reason, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Sakhr was given the nickname Abu Hurayrah because he had a cat that he carried with him, so he named him Abu Hurayrah. And the nickname was one of the best nicknames.
So it became the best kunyah (patronymic) by which 'Ali was known: Abu Turab. This is the way of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, with his companions. The man with the two arms, because the Messenger sometimes joked with him, said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1008Sahih (Al-Albani) Glory to Allah the Magnificent! This analysis and division, if the logicians and philosophers had devoted themselves to it, they would have remained for months without grasping it. He said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1008Sahih (Al-Albani) A third logical category remains: did you do it intentionally? But is this third category possible or not possible? Not possible. And for this reason, the man with the two arms omitted it; he did not mention it because it is impossible that the Messenger would exit his prayer intentionally before it was completed. He said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1008Sahih (Al-Albani) What did our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say? He said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1224Sahih (Darussalam) Glory to Allah! I did not forget and it was not shortened. This is a report, and the reality is that one of the two things must have happened. But the Messenger reported what was in his heart, and the scholars derived a great benefit from this, which is "that if a person speaks about what is in his heart, there is no sin on him, even if it is contrary to his belief". They even said that if he said, "By Allah, so-and-so will come tomorrow," based on his belief that he would come, and he did not come, then there is no breaking of the oath on him". Why? Because he swore based on his belief. Then he said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1224Sahih (Darussalam) The Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Why did you assert with the word "Yes, I forgot" while there is the possibility of shortening? Because shortening is revelation, and it is impossible for error to occur in it, while presence of heart is not revelation, so it is possible for remembrance to be absent. Therefore he said: Now two certainties conflict: the certainty that the Messenger believed, which was that he did not forget, and the certainty that the man with the two arms perceived, which was that he had forgotten.
And this story has many benefits, but this is not the place to elaborate on them. We only say that it is evidence that if a person says the closing salam before completing his prayer and then remembers or is reminded, what does he do? He completes the prayer and says the closing salam, then prostrates two prostrations after the salam. So if the imam says the closing salam in the Tarawih prayer after one unit, we tell him: complete it, come and perform one unit, then say the closing salam, then prostrate two prostrations after the salam. But if the matter is the reverse, and he stands for a third unit in the Tarawih prayer while forgetting, what is obligatory? When he stands, he remembers that this is the third unit. Does he continue and perform two units to pray four, or does he return and recite the tashahhud? The answer is: the second. He must return, recite the tashahhud, say the closing salam, and prostrate two prostrations after the salam because of the addition that occurred.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "If he stands for a third unit in the night prayer, it is as if he stood for a third unit in the Fajr prayer". Do you know the meaning of this statement? Do you know the meaning of the statement? "If he stands for a third unit in the night prayer, it is as if he stood for a third unit in the Fajr prayer". Do you know the meaning of the statement? Whoever knows it should raise his hand. How can you tell me and no one raises their hand? What is this statement?
The student: The night prayer is in pairs.
The Shaykh : And what is the meaning?
The student: The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him...
The Shaykh : It is not that the Messenger contradicts.
The student: In the Fajr prayer, returning is obligatory, so likewise in the night prayer.
The Shaykh : Well done. It means that just as it is obligatory for him to return if he stands for a third unit in the Fajr prayer, and if he does not return his prayer is invalid, so likewise if he stands for a third unit in the night prayer and does not return, it is invalid. But some people, if they stand for the third unit in the Tarawih prayer, say, "That's it, we'll make it four." This is a mistake. And therefore it is recommended for imams, indeed it is obligatory for imams, to learn the rulings of prayer so that if such matters occur to them, they are on clear guidance. Yes.
The Shaykh : If he says the closing salam after one unit in the Tarawih prayer, the ruling is that he must complete it. If they remind him, he comes and performs one unit and says the closing salam, then he prostrates for forgetfulness after the salam. This is because
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed one day with his companions the Dhuhr or 'Asr prayer and said the closing salam after two units.
النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى ذات يوم بأصحابه صلاة الظهر أو العصر فسلم من ركعتينHe said the closing salam after two units, and among the people were Abu Bakr and 'Umar, the closest of the Messenger's, peace and blessings be upon him, companions to him. They were afraid to speak to him because the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, did something he had not done before. When he said the closing salam, he went to a wooden pillar in front of the mosque, leaned on it, placed one hand over the other, interlaced his fingers like this, and placed his cheek on the back of his hand like this, as if he was angry.
سلم من ركعتين وكان في القوم أبو بكر وعمر أخص أصحاب الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم به فهابا أن يكلماه لأن الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام صنع شيئا لم يكن يصنعه لما سلم قام إلى خشبة في قبل المسجد فاتكأ عليها ووضع إحدى يديه على الأخرى وشبك بين أصابعه كذا ووضع خده على ظهر الكف هكذا كأنه غضبانThey were afraid to speak to him, and among the people was a man whom the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, sometimes joked with, whom he called "the man with the two arms."
هابا أن يكلمه وكان في القوم رجل ربما يداعبه الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام يسميه ذا اليدينAnd for this reason, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Sakhr was given the nickname Abu Hurayrah because he had a cat that he carried with him, so he named him Abu Hurayrah. And the nickname was one of the best nicknames.
And he came to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib while he was sleeping in the mosque, and his cloak had slipped off and dust had stuck to his back, and he said: "Get up, Abu Turab. Get up, Abu Turab."
وجاء إلى علي بن أبي طالب وهو نائم في المسجد وقد انكشف رداءه وعلق التراب في ظهره فقال : قم أبا تراب قم أبا ترابHave you forgotten. The Messenger of Allah, or has the prayer been shortened?
يا رسول الله أنسيت أم قصرت الصلاة ؟Have you forgotten. The Messenger of Allah, or has the prayer been shortened?
أنسيت أم قصرت الصلاة ؟Have you forgotten. The Messenger of Allah, or has the prayer been shortened?
أنسيت أم قصرت الصلاة ؟I did not forget and the prayer has not been shortened
لم أنس ولم تقصرI did not forget and the prayer has not been shortened
لم أنس ولم تقصرYes, I did forget.
بلى قد نسيتYes, I did forget.
بلى قد نسيتSo the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not accept the statement of the man with two hands until he asked the Companions, saying: "Is it true what the man with two hands says?" They said: "Yes." Some of them said "Yes," and some nodded their heads. So he stepped forward and prayed what he had left—meaning two rak'ahs—then he said the closing salam, then he prostrated two prostrations, and then he said the closing salam.
فلم يأخذ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بقول ذي اليدين حتى سأل الصحابة قال : أحق ما يقول ذو اليدين ؟ قالوا : نعم ، بعضهم قال نعم وبعضهم أومأ برأسه فتقدم فصلى ما ترك - يعني ركعتين - ثم سلم ثم سجد سجدتين ثم سلمAnd this story has many benefits, but this is not the place to elaborate on them. We only say that it is evidence that if a person says the closing salam before completing his prayer and then remembers or is reminded, what does he do? He completes the prayer and says the closing salam, then prostrates two prostrations after the salam. So if the imam says the closing salam in the Tarawih prayer after one unit, we tell him: complete it, come and perform one unit, then say the closing salam, then prostrate two prostrations after the salam. But if the matter is the reverse, and he stands for a third unit in the Tarawih prayer while forgetting, what is obligatory? When he stands, he remembers that this is the third unit. Does he continue and perform two units to pray four, or does he return and recite the tashahhud? The answer is: the second. He must return, recite the tashahhud, say the closing salam, and prostrate two prostrations after the salam because of the addition that occurred.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "If he stands for a third unit in the night prayer, it is as if he stood for a third unit in the Fajr prayer". Do you know the meaning of this statement? Do you know the meaning of the statement? "If he stands for a third unit in the night prayer, it is as if he stood for a third unit in the Fajr prayer". Do you know the meaning of the statement? Whoever knows it should raise his hand. How can you tell me and no one raises their hand? What is this statement?
The student: The night prayer is in pairs.
The Shaykh : And what is the meaning?
The student: The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him...
The Shaykh : It is not that the Messenger contradicts.
The student: In the Fajr prayer, returning is obligatory, so likewise in the night prayer.
The Shaykh : Well done. It means that just as it is obligatory for him to return if he stands for a third unit in the Fajr prayer, and if he does not return his prayer is invalid, so likewise if he stands for a third unit in the night prayer and does not return, it is invalid. But some people, if they stand for the third unit in the Tarawih prayer, say, "That's it, we'll make it four." This is a mistake. And therefore it is recommended for imams, indeed it is obligatory for imams, to learn the rulings of prayer so that if such matters occur to them, they are on clear guidance. Yes.