QUESTION:
As salaam alaykum
When the imam’s Wudhu breaks in Salat what does he do?
1) if he has no one behind him that can come on, so will he end the salat
2) what’s the procedure if three is someone who can lead behind him. What happens if the imam realise that he has commenced the Salat and he did not have wudhu.
Shukran
ANSWER:
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Respected Brother, The answer to your query is as follows:
Whoever is behind him will have to carry on the Salaah. They will step forward and carry on while the Imam will leave to make wudhu. Even if the person isn’t an Aalim or a Haafidh himself, he’ll still be able to complete the Salaah. As far as possible, the Jamaat shouldn’t be broken. If he realised that he started the Salaah without Wudhu, then he will inform the people that he doesn’t have Wudhu. Thereafter, he can make Wudhu, come back, and lead the Salaah. Or someone else can lead in his place.
And Allah Ta’ala in His Infinite Knowledge knows best
Answered by: Mufti Muaaz Mangera
Checked and approved by: Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb D.B.
و من سبقه الحدث في الصلاة: انصرف، فان كان اماما: استخلف و ترضأ و بنى. (استخلف: بأن يأخذ بثوب رجل إلى المحراب أو يشير اليه -فتح القدير)
(الهداية ١/٢٤٩)