If the ma'mum sees impurity on the imam's garment and the imam is unaware of it, what should he do? Please inform us. May Allah reward you all with good.
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The questioner : If the ma'mum sees impurity on the imam's garment and the imam is unaware of it, what should he do? Please inform us. May Allah reward you all with good.
The Shaykh : If this impurity is of the kind that is excused, such as a small amount of blood coming from other than the two private parts, then it does not harm, and he should continue his prayer with this imam. If the impurity is of the kind that is not excused, such as if he is certain that it is feces, for example, then it is obligatory for him to inform the imam of it. In that case, the imam should leave his prayer if he cannot remove the garment and continue his prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If he can remove the garment and continue his prayer, such as if he has another garment underneath that provides the necessary covering, then he should remove the outer garment and continue his prayer, and the prayer of everyone will be valid. The evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions one day and removed his sandals, so the people removed their sandals. Then, after he had completed the prayer, he informed them that Jibril had come to him and told him that there was something harmful in them, so he removed them.
The questioner : The letter before us, which we received from Iraq from the sister M. A. H., says in it:
The Shaykh : If this impurity is of the kind that is excused, such as a small amount of blood coming from other than the two private parts, then it does not harm, and he should continue his prayer with this imam. If the impurity is of the kind that is not excused, such as if he is certain that it is feces, for example, then it is obligatory for him to inform the imam of it. In that case, the imam should leave his prayer if he cannot remove the garment and continue his prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If he can remove the garment and continue his prayer, such as if he has another garment underneath that provides the necessary covering, then he should remove the outer garment and continue his prayer, and the prayer of everyone will be valid. The evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions one day and removed his sandals, so the people removed their sandals. Then, after he had completed the prayer, he informed them that Jibril had come to him and told him that there was something harmful in them, so he removed them.
The questioner : The letter before us, which we received from Iraq from the sister M. A. H., says in it: