Fatwa ID: 08308

Answered by: Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Question:

Assalamualaikum, an Imam is fasting but leading his community in Eid prayer (his community follows calculations and it seems unlikely there is going to be any credible sighting of the moon.) Any thoughts or opinions on the matter?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

In the scenario where the Imam is following the moon sighting and the congregation are using astronomical calculations, there may be instances when Eid falls on different days for them.

Can the Imam lead Eid salaah for the congregation if he himself does not believe it is Eid, and is still fasting?

We must understand that Eid Salaah is only valid on the day of Eid ie. 1^st of Shawaal. If the Imam does not believe it is Eid, he cannot validly perform or lead the salaah for others. Intention is necessary in Salaah, the Imam cannot intend to lead Eid Salaah if he does not believe it to be Eid. In this situation he may delegate a suitable person, who is celebrating Eid, to lead the salaah.

(قَوْلُهُ النِّيَّةُ عِنْدَنَا شَرْطٌ مُطْلَقًا) أَيْ فِي كُلِّ الْعِبَادَاتِ بِاتِّفَاقِ الْأَصْحَابِ لَا رُكْنٌ وَإِنَّمَا وَقَعَ الِاخْتِلَافُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي تَكْبِيرَةِ الْإِحْرَامِ وَالْمُعْتَمَدُ أَنَّهَا شَرْطٌ كَالنِّيَّةِ

قَوْلُهُ إلَّا عَلَى قَوْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ) فَعِنْدَهُ لَا يُدْرِكُ الْجُمُعَةَ إلَّا بِإِدْرَاكِ رَكْعَةٍ مَعَ الْإِمَامِ؛ فَلَوْ اقْتَدَى بَعْدَمَا رَفَعَ الْإِمَامُ رَأْسَهُ مِنْ رُكُوعِ الثَّانِيَةِ يَنْوِي جُمُعَةً وَيُتِمُّهَا ظُهْرًا عِنْدَهُ، فَقَدْ نَوَى الْجُمُعَةَ وَلَمْ يُؤَدِّهَا، وَأَدَّى الظُّهْرَ وَلَمْ يَنْوِهِ، وَهُوَ مَذْهَبُ الشَّافِعِيِّ. وَعِنْدَنَا يُتِمُّهَا جُمُعَةً مَتَى صَحَّ اقْتِدَاؤُهُ بِالْإِمَامِ وَلَوْ فِي سُجُودِ السَّهْوِ عَلَى الْقَوْلِ بِفِعْلِهِ فِيهَا

كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي 1:437

قال: وينوي الصلاة التي يدخل فيها بنية لا يفصل بينها وبين التحريمة بعمل،

والمذهب الصحيح عندهم الأول…

والنية هي الإرادة، والشرط: أن يعلم بقلبه أي صلاة هي، أما الذكر باللسان فلا يعتبر به

كتاب البناية شرح الهداية 2:137

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham