What should the congregant do if the Imam stands for a fifth rak'ah out of forgetfulness and does not return after the congregants' tasbeeh?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the Imam stands for a fifth rak'ah out of forgetfulness, the congregants must alert him. If he does not return, and believes he is correct, it is not permissible for a congregant who knows it is the fifth rak'ah to follow him and stand with him. This is because by doing so, he would be knowingly and intentionally adding a rak'ah to the prayer, which invalidates the prayer. Instead, the congregant should sit, recite the , and then make the , or wait for the Imam and make the taslim with him. However, if they stand with him out of ignorance, their prayer is not invalidated.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/11639
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 11639
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy