How can an Imam who increased or


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Q 5: If an Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) makes a mistake while offering Salah (prayer) and one, two, or more of those praying behind him draw his attention to it, but he does not respond to them, confident that he did not forget anything, what should the people praying behind him do in such a situation? It is obligatory on the Imam to perform Sujud-ul-Sahw (Prostration of Forgetfulness) even if he is certain about the correctness of his Salah?


A: If an Imam is certain that what he has done is correct, he is not required to do Sujud-ul-Sahw and it is not permissible for him to respond to those who say, "Subhana Allah (Glory be to Allah)" to draw his attention to it, as long as he is sure that they are mistaken.If someone following him is certain that the Imam has offered an extra Rak`ah (unit of Salah), for example, he is not permitted to follow him. If he follows the Imam, knowing that it is an extra Rak`ah and knowing that he is not permitted to follow him in that, his Salah will be Batil (null and void).However, those who do not know that it is an extra Rak`ah and those who do not know the ruling may follow him.




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