What is the ruling regarding prayers led by someone as an Imam while he was in a state of ritual impurity (janabah) due to his ignorance, and what are the implications of that for those who prayed behind him?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The prayer of someone who prays while in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) is invalid according to the majority of scholars, and they must make up that prayer. However, the prayer of the congregants behind an Imam who is in a state of major ritual impurity is valid, because the Imam's impurity is hidden from them and they cannot become aware of it. Any invalidating factor for the Imam's prayer that cannot be known does not invalidate the prayer of the congregants.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/139715
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 139715
- 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