What is the ruling on the prayer of one who completed the prayer of an imam whose ablution was broken, with some people performing takbir for a new imam and others not performing takbir and sufficing with the first intention?
If an impediment arises that prevents the Imam from completing the prayer, it is legislated for him to appoint one of the congregants who joined him in prayer before the impediment arose as his successor. If the Imam does not appoint a successor, it is permissible for the congregants to put forward one of them to complete the prayer. If they do not do so, it is permissible for any of them to step forward and complete it, and this is preferable to their praying individually. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf as his successor when he was stabbed during prayer. The prayer of those who prayed with the second Imam is valid, as is the prayer of those who completed it individually, on condition that they intended to separate from the first Imam due to the invalidation of his prayer. The second Imam should recite from where the first Imam stopped, if he knows that.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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