Asalamualaikum Mufti.
I have 2 brief questions about the Imaam leading a congregational salah:
1] If the Imaam is leading the prayer WITHOUT wudu, and realises in the middle of the prayer that he did not have wudu, is the prayer invalidated?
2] If the Imaam is leading the prayer without wudu and realises that he does not have wudu and then appoints someone from the congregation to continue leading the prayer, is the pray valid?
Jazakallahukhairan Mufti
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Wudhu is a condition for Salaah. If the Imam leads a congregation without Wudhu, everyone will have to repeat their prayers.
Likewise, if the Imam does not have Wudhu from the beginning, and realizes this during prayer, the entire congregation will have to start the prayer again.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)