If the imam remembers that he is in a state of major ritual impurity and has not performed the full ritual bath, should he appoint someone to lead the people or have them wait?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you, if the imam forgets and then remembers that he is not in a state of ritual purity, meaning one of them... is praying or staying to perform the ablution.
The Shaykh : After he has entered into the prayer.
The questioner : No, he has not entered into the prayer, Shaykh. They have just called the second call, and then he remembers. He says, "Stay in your places," and does not appoint anyone else.
The Shaykh : This should be looked at in terms of public benefit. If he sees that the congregation can bear the delay, he should go, perform the full ritual bath, and come back; that is better for reviving the Sunnah. However, if he sees that they will not bear it, or if his house is far away—since the house of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in the mosque, with its door opening onto the mosque—or if his house is far away, he should authorize one of them to lead the prayer for them.
The Shaykh : After he has entered into the prayer.
The questioner : No, he has not entered into the prayer, Shaykh. They have just called the second call, and then he remembers. He says, "Stay in your places," and does not appoint anyone else.
The Shaykh : This should be looked at in terms of public benefit. If he sees that the congregation can bear the delay, he should go, perform the full ritual bath, and come back; that is better for reviving the Sunnah. However, if he sees that they will not bear it, or if his house is far away—since the house of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in the mosque, with its door opening onto the mosque—or if his house is far away, he should authorize one of them to lead the prayer for them.