Does the Imam's justification for his return — that the ignorance of the congregants and the prevention of their disturbance is a necessity — remove the detestability, in the view of the people of knowledge, for his return after standing up from the first Tashahhud, when people had glorified God to him, and he had not yet begun reciting?

If the Imam returns to a sitting position after having fully stood up and before starting the recitation, his prayer is valid according to the Hanbalis, but it is a disliked action. However, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen holds that the prayer becomes invalid in this case. It is obligatory for the follower to follow the Imam. If the followers say "Subhanallah" (glorifying Allah) but the Imam does not return, they must continue to follow him, and their prayer is valid. If the Imam begins recitation after standing up, having forgotten the first tashahhud, he should not return, and the followers must continue to follow him. However, if he remembers before he stands up straight, he must return for the tashahhud.