What is the ruling on the prayer of the Imam and the congregants if the Imam stands for the third rak'ah and one of the congregants reminds him, so he sits for the first tashahhud, given the differing actions of the congregants between sitting with the Imam, leaving him, or waiting for him while standing?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the Imam stands for a third rak'ah in a two-rak'ah prayer, he must continue and perform the prostration of forgetfulness ( al-sahw) before the salutations (). If he intentionally returns, knowing the prohibition, his prayer is invalidated. As for the congregants (ma'mumoon) who followed him in returning, their prayer is invalidated if they did so intentionally, knowing the prohibition. Their prayer is valid if their return was due to ignorance or forgetfulness. The prayer of the congregants who remained standing or separated from the Imam is valid.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/113645
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 113645
- 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