Q 1: The Masjid (mosque) where I offer Salah (Prayer) has a regular Imam who has become sick and cannot stand up. There is disagreement among people about how to offer Salah behind him. Some people believe that the regular Imam should lead the Salah sitting and the Ma'mums (persons being led by an Imam in Prayer) should offer Salah sitting as well. They take as evidence the following Hadith: The Imam is appointed only to be followed... At the end of which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If he performs Salah sitting, you should all perform Salah sitting. Other people claim that this above-mentioned Hadith was abrogated when the Prophet (peace be upon him) led the people in Salah during his fatal illness while sitting.What is the ruling on this?

A: If the regular Imam is afflicted with a curable disease that makes him unable to stand and he starts leading the people in Salah while sitting, the Ma'mums should offer Salah sitting as well. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Imam is appointed only to be followed... Until his saying: If he performs Salah sitting, you should all perform Salah sitting. As for the event of the Prophet (peace be upon him) leading the people in Salah while sitting during his fatal illness, this took place when Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) started leading the people in Salah while standing and then the Prophet (peace be upon him) came and - while seated - continued leading the Salah. This event proves that if the Imam has already started Salah while standing and then he falls ill and has to sit down during Salah, (Part No. 6; Page No. 297) the Ma'mums should continue their Salah while standing. However, a group of religious scholars stated that since the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) offered Salah behind the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his fatal illness while standing, then it is permissible to offer Salah behind a seated Imam while standing. Other texts of Hadith prove that it is better to sit behind a seated Imam. Both opinions are respected and there is no harm in this In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.