What is the ruling concerning an imam who does not say the salām to his right and left at the end of the prayer, claiming that the salām is only by utterance, and is the prayer of those behind him valid?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The turning of the worshipper's head to the right and left during the (salutation of peace at the end of prayer) is among the Sunan (plural of , recommended acts) of prayer. The proof for this is the action of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as reported in the of 'Amir ibn Sa'd from his father. This is also what Al-Nawawi mentioned as being among the Sunan of prayer. Therefore, whoever omits turning their head, their prayer is valid, but they have forsaken a Prophetic Sunnah. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/48876
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 48876
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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