❖ Question
Is it permissible to give a luqmah (prompt) to the Imam if he forgets a word during Salah? Did the companions ever do this with the Prophet ﷺ? The Hanafi school usually discourages luqmah and recommends Sajdah Sahw instead — what is the evidence for both views?❖ Answer
✔ Yes, giving a luqmah (prompt) to the Imam is permissible and established from multiple authentic Hadiths. It is an allowed and sunnah-based practice when the Imam forgets a verse or gets confused during recitation (qira'ah).❖ Evidences from Hadith
➊ Narration of Miswar bin Yazid al-MalikiThe Prophet ﷺ left a verse during Salah. After the prayer, a companion mentioned it. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Why did you not remind me?”
This shows that prompting during Salah is acceptable.
(Reported in Abu Dawud, explained in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood)
➋ Narration of Abdullah ibn Umar
The Prophet ﷺ once had hesitation during Salah. Afterward, he asked Ubayy bin Ka'b:
“Why did you not give me luqmah?”
❖ Hanafi View
The Hanafi school generally discourages luqmah unless absolutely necessary. Their preference is to resolve mistakes with Sajdah Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness), especially when the obligatory part of recitation is already fulfilled.❖ Weak Hadith Clarification
A Hadith reported from Ali رضي الله عنه stating:“O Ali, do not give luqmah to the Imam”
is weak (da’if) due to the presence of a fabricator (ḥārith) in the chain of narration. Hence, it cannot be used as evidence.
❖ Scholarly Conclusion
According to scholars like Shams al-Haqq Azimabadi (commentator of ‘Awn al-Ma’bood), the correct view is that giving luqmah is permissible whenever the Imam forgets during recitation or any part of the prayer, based on the authentic narrations.❖ Summary
➊ Giving luqmah to the Imam is permissible and supported by the Sunnah.➋ It is especially recommended when the Imam forgets during recitation.
➌ The view of it being forbidden is based on a weak narration and does not override authentic Hadith.
➍ Luqmah is not disrespectful — it is a help to preserve correctness in Salah.
✔ It is a Sunnah-based act, and permissible when needed.
