Question:
Assalamualaikum wrm.wbt.,
What should a makmum do if for Zuhur prayer the imam sits in tawaruk position (sitting for the final tasyahhud) in the third rakaat? Should the makmum stand and signal to the imam that he had made a mistake or should he sits together with the imam and then signals that the imam has made a mistake?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrm. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
One of the conditions of the validity of qudwah (following the imam) is that the makmum must follow (mutaba’ah) the actions of the imam. If the makmum does not do so, whether he preceded or late than two requisite fi’li (actions), without any excuse, then the prayer of the makmum is invalidated if he did not set the intention of mufaraqah (separate from the imam). However, if mukhalafah (contradiction with the action of the imam) is just for a duration of one requisite, then it does not invalidate the prayer for it is considered as a minor mukhalafah.
The exception for the above ruling is if the imam forgets a requisite (obligation in prayer), for example, if the imam sits for the final tasyahhud when it is in the third rakaat. In the book al-Mu`tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafie, Syeikh Muhammad al-Zuhaili stated:
“If the imam forgets a requisite in prayer such as if he sits when he is supposed to stand or stand when he should sit, it is impermissible for the makmum to follow him leaving the action. Regardless of if he leaves it purposely or because he forgets. The reason is the makmum is obligated to follow the actions of prayer of the imam, while the actions that the imam is performing is not from the actions of prayer. There is a possibility that the imam purposely did so and thus his prayer is invalidated or he forgets, hence, his actions are not considered. Thereupon, the makmum should mufaraqah from the imam and complete his prayer alone.”
Thus, from the above text, it can be understood that it is wajib for the makmum to mufaraqah from the imam who has left a requisite of prayer. However, it is sunnah for the makmum to remind the imam before mufaraqah by reciting tasbih:
“If the imam forgets an action (of prayer) and neglected it or want to change it, then it is mustahab (sunnah) for the makmum to recite tasbih to inform the imam.”
Refer al-Mu`tamad (453-454)
In answering the questioner, our answer is: the makmum should stand for the fourth rakaat of Zuhur prayer and remind the imam by reciting tasbih so that the imam would stand. [1] If the imam remembers and stand, then continue the congregational prayer until it is completed as usual. However, if the imam did not stand and continue with his tasyahhud, then it is wajib for the makmum to mufaraqah from the imam and complete his prayer alone. Wallahua’lam.
Endnotes:
[1] If the makmum reminded the imam while sitting before standing for the fourth rakaat, it is permissible if he only sits for a short duration of time, of about the duration for sitting between the two prostrations. However, according to Imam Syamsuddin al-Ramli, prolonging the sitting is permissible. Refer al-Taqrirat al-Sadidah (pg. 248)