Prayer Behind an Imam Who Was Without Wudu
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
If the Imam was without wudu and unknowingly led the prayer, and this is discovered later, then the Imam must repeat his own prayer. However, the prayer of the followers will be considered valid and they are not required to repeat it.
➊ In one narration, it is stated:
إن عمر صلى بالناس وهو جنب فأعاد ولم يأمرهم أن يعيدوا
"Indeed, ʿUmar رضي الله عنه led the people in prayer while he was in a state of janābah (major impurity) and repeated the prayer himself, but did not instruct the people to repeat their prayer."
[Muwaṭṭaʾ: 1/49; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 2/347; Ibn Abī Shaybah: 1/397; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/436]
➋ A similar incident is also reported from ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه.
[Dārquṭnī: 1/364]
➌ It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
يصلون لكم فإن أصابوا فلكم وإن أخطأوا فلكم وعليهم
"They (the Imams) lead you in prayer; if they do it correctly, the reward is yours, and if they err, the reward is still yours and the burden is on them."
[Bukhārī: 694, Book of Adhān: Chapter on If the Imam Does Not Complete but the Followers Do; Aḥmad: 2/355; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 840; Bayhaqī: 2/397]
✔ Summary:
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
❀ Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam Who Was Without Wudu ❀
If the Imam was without wudu and unknowingly led the prayer, and this is discovered later, then the Imam must repeat his own prayer. However, the prayer of the followers will be considered valid and they are not required to repeat it.
✿ Supporting Evidences
➊ In one narration, it is stated:
إن عمر صلى بالناس وهو جنب فأعاد ولم يأمرهم أن يعيدوا
"Indeed, ʿUmar رضي الله عنه led the people in prayer while he was in a state of janābah (major impurity) and repeated the prayer himself, but did not instruct the people to repeat their prayer."
[Muwaṭṭaʾ: 1/49; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 2/347; Ibn Abī Shaybah: 1/397; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/436]
➋ A similar incident is also reported from ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه.
[Dārquṭnī: 1/364]
➌ It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
يصلون لكم فإن أصابوا فلكم وإن أخطأوا فلكم وعليهم
"They (the Imams) lead you in prayer; if they do it correctly, the reward is yours, and if they err, the reward is still yours and the burden is on them."
[Bukhārī: 694, Book of Adhān: Chapter on If the Imam Does Not Complete but the Followers Do; Aḥmad: 2/355; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 840; Bayhaqī: 2/397]
✔ Summary:
- If the Imam was without wudu and this is realized after the prayer, he alone must repeat the prayer.
- The followers’ prayer remains valid.
- This is supported by the practice of the Companions and the statements of the Prophet ﷺ.
