Assalamu alaikum Mufti Sahib, Recently the Imam of the mosque didnt do Tashaud on the 2nd Rakat of isha prayer but got up, stood straight and folded his hands. When musallees said Allahu Akbar, he sat down and done Tasaud. What is the correct ruling on this?. When asked about this, the imam said he didnt stood up straight but the musallees who were behind him said his back was straight. The Imam is known to be dishonest. What is the correct ruling on this. is the prayer valid and what can the committee do a dishonest imam? Jazakamullah Khairun
Answer
(Fatwa: 373/341=B/1430)
Standing in third rak?ah is fardh and sitting in qa?dah is wajib. When the imam was alerted, he returned to wajib leaving the fardh, it was wrong. As per the rule, it can invalidate salah, but the scholars of Fqih have regarded salah valid. But, the imam should be convinced that if he forgets first qa?dah and got up for third rak?ah, he should not return to qa?dah though he is alerted by those behind him. The salah will be valid after performing sajdah sahv (remedial prostration). The imam should be admonished if he told a lie.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband