The obligation of the followers if the imam omits the middle tashahhud due to forgetfulness
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Question:
The listener: Abu Falah al-Mutayri sent a question saying: In the 'Asr prayer, the imam forgot to sit for the middle tashahhud. The followers reminded him, but he insisted on standing for the third rak'ah without reciting the tashahhud. The people followed him, except for two men who sat down and recited the tashahhud. They remained seated until the imam prostrated for the third rak'ah, and then he stood for the fourth. They stood up with him. Consequently, the imam and those who followed him had a fourth rak'ah, but without the middle tashahhud, while the two men had only the third. After the final tashahhud, the imam prostrated twice for forgetfulness and said the closing salam. All the people prostrated for forgetfulness with the imam, including the two men. However, the two men did not say the salam with him; instead, they stood up and performed the fourth rak'ah. He said: Whoever followed the imam, you two men must follow the imam and take him as your example. The two men said: Rather, we follow him if we are certain that we are wrong and the imam is right, or if we are in doubt. But if we are certain that we are right and he is wrong, we are not obligated to follow him; because it is obligatory to build upon certainty, and we are certain that he is wrong. The imam himself was in doubt about his own state, or he became certain that he was wrong, as evidenced by the fact that he prostrated for forgetfulness. So which group is correct? May Allah reward you with good?
Answer:
Those who stood up with the imam are the ones who are correct, and the two individuals who remained seated are the ones who are wrong. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) and these two prostrations are a substitute for omitting the first tashahhud. The first tashahhud is obligatory according to some scholars, and a confirmed recommended practice according to others, so omitting it is rectified by the prostrations for forgetfulness.
The correct view is that it is obligatory, but it is not of the nature of the pillars. If the imam stands up and does not sit, the followers stand up with him, reminding him before he settles into the standing position. If they remind him before he settles, he must return to sitting. If he does not return, they stand up with him, because he may be ignorant of the legal ruling, or he may not have heard them.
Therefore, the obligation in all cases is that they stand up with him, complete the prayer with him, and prostrate for forgetfulness with him, and none of them should sit. This is the obligation, as the Companions did with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not say to them: "Whoever is in such a state, let him do such a thing," but rather he approved of their action. So the two individuals who sat down have made a mistake.
As for in matters other than this issue, if he stands up for a third rak'ah in the Fajr prayer, and there are people who know that he has made a mistake, they do not stand up with him, because it is an addition to the prayer. Or if he stands up for a fifth rak'ah in the Zuhr prayer, they do not stand up with him. The one who knows that it is an extra rak'ah does not stand up with him; he waits until he says the salam, and says the salam with him, while reminding him.
And likewise, if he sits due to a deficiency, sitting in the third rak'ah in the Zuhr, or 'Asr, or 'Isha' prayer, they remind him. If he becomes aware, well and good; otherwise, they stand up and complete their prayer. This is the place of disagreement for the one who is certain of the imam's mistake. As for the one who is not certain of the imam's mistake, but is in doubt, or knows the imam is correct, he follows him. Or if they know the imam is wrong, but are ignorant of the legal ruling, he follows him, and there is nothing on him. So whoever follows him in error while ignorant, or in doubt, there is nothing on him. But whoever follows him while knowing the legal ruling and knowing that he is wrong, his prayer is not valid in following him in an addition, nor in a deficiency. And Allah is the Helper. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
The listener: Abu Falah al-Mutayri sent a question saying: In the 'Asr prayer, the imam forgot to sit for the middle tashahhud. The followers reminded him, but he insisted on standing for the third rak'ah without reciting the tashahhud. The people followed him, except for two men who sat down and recited the tashahhud. They remained seated until the imam prostrated for the third rak'ah, and then he stood for the fourth. They stood up with him. Consequently, the imam and those who followed him had a fourth rak'ah, but without the middle tashahhud, while the two men had only the third. After the final tashahhud, the imam prostrated twice for forgetfulness and said the closing salam. All the people prostrated for forgetfulness with the imam, including the two men. However, the two men did not say the salam with him; instead, they stood up and performed the fourth rak'ah. He said: Whoever followed the imam, you two men must follow the imam and take him as your example. The two men said: Rather, we follow him if we are certain that we are wrong and the imam is right, or if we are in doubt. But if we are certain that we are right and he is wrong, we are not obligated to follow him; because it is obligatory to build upon certainty, and we are certain that he is wrong. The imam himself was in doubt about his own state, or he became certain that he was wrong, as evidenced by the fact that he prostrated for forgetfulness. So which group is correct? May Allah reward you with good?
Answer:
Those who stood up with the imam are the ones who are correct, and the two individuals who remained seated are the ones who are wrong. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him)
That he: stood up from the first tashahhud, so the people stood up with him, and they did not sit. When he finished his prayer, he prostrated two prostrations for forgetfulness before saying the salam, then he said the salam, peace and blessings be upon him.
أنه: قام عن التشهد الأول، فقام الناس معه، ولم يجلسوا، فلما فرغ من صلاته؛ سجد سجدتين للسهو قبل أن يسلم، ثم سلم، عليه الصلاة والسلامThe correct view is that it is obligatory, but it is not of the nature of the pillars. If the imam stands up and does not sit, the followers stand up with him, reminding him before he settles into the standing position. If they remind him before he settles, he must return to sitting. If he does not return, they stand up with him, because he may be ignorant of the legal ruling, or he may not have heard them.
Therefore, the obligation in all cases is that they stand up with him, complete the prayer with him, and prostrate for forgetfulness with him, and none of them should sit. This is the obligation, as the Companions did with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not say to them: "Whoever is in such a state, let him do such a thing," but rather he approved of their action. So the two individuals who sat down have made a mistake.
As for in matters other than this issue, if he stands up for a third rak'ah in the Fajr prayer, and there are people who know that he has made a mistake, they do not stand up with him, because it is an addition to the prayer. Or if he stands up for a fifth rak'ah in the Zuhr prayer, they do not stand up with him. The one who knows that it is an extra rak'ah does not stand up with him; he waits until he says the salam, and says the salam with him, while reminding him.
And likewise, if he sits due to a deficiency, sitting in the third rak'ah in the Zuhr, or 'Asr, or 'Isha' prayer, they remind him. If he becomes aware, well and good; otherwise, they stand up and complete their prayer. This is the place of disagreement for the one who is certain of the imam's mistake. As for the one who is not certain of the imam's mistake, but is in doubt, or knows the imam is correct, he follows him. Or if they know the imam is wrong, but are ignorant of the legal ruling, he follows him, and there is nothing on him. So whoever follows him in error while ignorant, or in doubt, there is nothing on him. But whoever follows him while knowing the legal ruling and knowing that he is wrong, his prayer is not valid in following him in an addition, nor in a deficiency. And Allah is the Helper. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.