❖ Prompting the Imam (Luqmah) During Salah ❖
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
If an Imam forgets a verse during Salah and a follower reminds him by reciting it, this act does not invalidate the prayer. Rather, it is permissible and even encouraged, especially when needed.
✔ Even if there were no specific proof for it, the Qur’anic verse:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى
“Cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety.”
would suffice as general support, as explained by Imam Shawkānī (رحمه الله).
[Al-Sayl al-Jarrār: 1/240; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/171]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was reciting during Salah and left out a part. After the prayer, a man said:
O Messenger of Allah! You skipped a verse.
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
هلا ذكرتنيها
“Why did you not remind me of it?”
[Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 802; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Fatḥ ʿalā al-Imām fī al-Ṣalāh; Abū Dāwūd: 902; Bayhaqī: 3/211]
The Prophet ﷺ once led prayer and made a mix-up in his recitation. After finishing, he asked Ubayy ibn Kaʿb:
فما منعك؟
“What prevented you from correcting me?”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 803; also: Abū Dāwūd: 907; Ibn Ḥibbān: 2242; Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr: 13216; Bayhaqī: 3/212]
كنا نفتح على الأئمة على عهد رسول الله
“We used to prompt the Imams during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
[Ḥākim: 1/276]
إذا استطعمك الإمام فأطعمه
“When the Imam requests prompting, then prompt him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr: 1/513; Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/72]
The narration in which the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have told ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه):
لا تفتح على الإمام في الصلاة
“Do not prompt the Imam during prayer”
is weak and unreliable.
[Ḍaʿīf: Ḍaʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 193; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Nahy ʿan al-Talqīn; Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ: 6401; Abū Dāwūd: 908]
✔ Prompting the Imam (Luqmah) during Salah in case of a mistake or lapse in recitation is permissible and supported by authentic narrations.
✔ It is a practical example of cooperation in righteousness and helps preserve the integrity of prayer.
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
✦ Ruling on Giving Luqmah (Prompting the Imam)
If an Imam forgets a verse during Salah and a follower reminds him by reciting it, this act does not invalidate the prayer. Rather, it is permissible and even encouraged, especially when needed.
✔ Even if there were no specific proof for it, the Qur’anic verse:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى
“Cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety.”
would suffice as general support, as explained by Imam Shawkānī (رحمه الله).
[Al-Sayl al-Jarrār: 1/240; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/171]✦ Supporting Evidences from Hadith
➊ Hadith of al-Miswar ibn Yazīd al-Mālikī (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was reciting during Salah and left out a part. After the prayer, a man said:
O Messenger of Allah! You skipped a verse.
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
هلا ذكرتنيها
“Why did you not remind me of it?”
[Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 802; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Fatḥ ʿalā al-Imām fī al-Ṣalāh; Abū Dāwūd: 902; Bayhaqī: 3/211]➋ Hadith of Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ once led prayer and made a mix-up in his recitation. After finishing, he asked Ubayy ibn Kaʿb:
فما منعك؟
“What prevented you from correcting me?”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 803; also: Abū Dāwūd: 907; Ibn Ḥibbān: 2242; Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr: 13216; Bayhaqī: 3/212]➌ Hadith of Anas (رضي الله عنه):
كنا نفتح على الأئمة على عهد رسول الله
“We used to prompt the Imams during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
[Ḥākim: 1/276]➍ Hadith of ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه):
إذا استطعمك الإمام فأطعمه
“When the Imam requests prompting, then prompt him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr: 1/513; Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/72]✦ Weak Narration Opposing Prompting
The narration in which the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have told ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه):
لا تفتح على الإمام في الصلاة
“Do not prompt the Imam during prayer”
is weak and unreliable.
[Ḍaʿīf: Ḍaʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 193; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Nahy ʿan al-Talqīn; Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ: 6401; Abū Dāwūd: 908]✦ Conclusion
✔ Prompting the Imam (Luqmah) during Salah in case of a mistake or lapse in recitation is permissible and supported by authentic narrations.
✔ It is a practical example of cooperation in righteousness and helps preserve the integrity of prayer.
