Clarification of the Responsibility of the Imam and the Mu'adhdhin
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Q426: The questioner says: I hope that the honorable Shaykh Saleh (may Allah preserve him) will speak about the responsibility of the mosque imam, the duties incumbent upon him, and likewise the mosque mu'adhdhin?
A426: The imam and the mu'adhdhin bear a great responsibility. The mu'adhdhin is responsible for the adhan and monitoring the time, while the imam is responsible for the prayer and leading it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning: he is a trustee of the time. And the imam is a guarantor for the prayer of those behind him. If a defect occurs due to him, he is the one who bears it. However, if he perfects the prayer, he receives his reward and the reward of those behind him, and this is a great favor. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Riyad as-Salihin 1838 The imam must take this responsibility seriously and thank Allah for this blessing, for there is a great virtue in being an imam because he preserves the congregational prayer, and because, as reported
from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he is a guarantor. Therefore, he must maintain the imamate and maintain the time, and not be late without an excuse. If he is late for an excuse, he appoints someone to pray on his behalf, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. He must also not burden the ma'mum by lengthening the prayer and making the recitation heavy, nor shorten the prayer in a way that compromises it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 703 The imam should consider the conditions of the ma'mum, so he does not hasten the iqamah to the point that they miss the prayer, nor delay it to the point that waiting becomes burdensome for them. The important thing is to take a middle path in this.
A426: The imam and the mu'adhdhin bear a great responsibility. The mu'adhdhin is responsible for the adhan and monitoring the time, while the imam is responsible for the prayer and leading it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The mu'adhdhin is a trustee
المؤذن مؤتمنYour leaders will lead you in Salat (prayer). If they conduct it properly, you and they will be rewarded; but if they make mistakes you will earn the reward and they will be held responsible (for the mistakes).
يصلون لكم، فإن أصابوا فلكم، وإن أخطؤوا فلكم وعليهمfrom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he is a guarantor. Therefore, he must maintain the imamate and maintain the time, and not be late without an excuse. If he is late for an excuse, he appoints someone to pray on his behalf, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. He must also not burden the ma'mum by lengthening the prayer and making the recitation heavy, nor shorten the prayer in a way that compromises it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If anyone of you leads the people in the prayer, he should shorten it for amongst them are the weak, the sick and the old; and if anyone among your prays alone then he may prolong (the prayer) as much as he wishes.
إذا صلّى أحدكم للناس؛ فليخفف، فإن منهم الضعيف والسقيم والكبير، وإذا صلّى أحدكم لنفسه- يعني: منفرداً- فليطول ما شاء
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.