Fatwa #51347 March 2002United States of America
Once I was leading a Salaat, and right after I started, I realized that I was without wudu. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I continued on with it. Please advise, what I should have done.
Question
After I finished the prayer, I made wudu and repeated my own Salaat. I was also too embarrassed to tell the others who were in the congregation behind me. Is their Salaat valid?
Answer
Wudhu is a condition for Salaat. If the Imaam performed Salaat without
Wudhu, then the entire congregation as well as the Imaam's Salaat is
invalid. It is necessary for the Imaam to inform the congregation to the
best of his capacity. The Salaat will have to be repeated.
The correct procedure would have been that as soon as the Imaam realized he
was without Wudhu, he should break his Salaat totally. The Salaat should be
started all over again.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
for: Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.
Wudhu, then the entire congregation as well as the Imaam's Salaat is
invalid. It is necessary for the Imaam to inform the congregation to the
best of his capacity. The Salaat will have to be repeated.
The correct procedure would have been that as soon as the Imaam realized he
was without Wudhu, he should break his Salaat totally. The Salaat should be
started all over again.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
for: Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.