Ruling on Prompting the Imam During Recitation

Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of the Qur'an and Hadith, Volume 2

❖ Question​

If the Imam forgets during the recitation (Qirāʾah), is it permissible to prompt him (give Luqmah)? The Ḥanafīs say that if the Imam has recited beyond three verses, then prompting is not permissible, and if the Imam accepts the prompt, the prayer becomes invalid. Please clarify this issue.

❖ Answer​

It is permissible to prompt the Imam, and there is no prohibition regarding this. The Ḥanafī opinion that prompting after the Imam has recited more than three verses invalidates the prayer is baseless and has no Sharʿī foundation.

❖ Evidence from Hadith on Prompting​

Several ḥadīths in Abū Dāwūd mention the permissibility of prompting during prayer. The author of ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd has thoroughly established that prompting is supported by authentic ḥadīths, and there is no narration that prohibits it. Therefore, prompting the Imam when he forgets during recitation is legally sound and permissible.

❖ Summary​

✔ It is permissible to prompt the Imam if he forgets during recitation.
✔ The permissibility of prompting is established through authentic Hadiths.
✔ The Ḥanafī claim that prompting invalidates the prayer is baseless and lacks Sharʿī evidence.

❖ References​

◈ Abū Dāwūd
◈ ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd
◈ Ahl-e-Ḥadīth Sohadra, Volume 5, Issue No. 48