Fatwa ID: 06432

Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

Can such a person who on account of some problem inserts cotton to prevent urine drops from coming out to lead a prayer in the absence of an imam and nobody else is ready to lead the prayers? 

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

Answer:

The Imām is responsible and liable for every single person praying behind him. If the Musalli makes a mistake, the Imām suffices them. However, if the Imām makes a mistake then he is accountable for all those behind him. The Salāh of the Musalli“s would be considered complete but the sin of the error would be on the Imām’s head. 

Thus, the Imām must be somebody who understands and knows all the conditions of Salāh as well as how to identify mistakes and the methods of rectifying them. 

One of the prerequisites of Salāh is to be in a state of purity. [Al-Bināyah: vol. 2, pg. 132] [1]

When one has an issue with urine retention, then one is not in a position to perform Salāh, let alone be leading it. If anything descends from the urine tract, then one’s Wudhu would be nullified and the subsequent Salāh as well. 

For this reason, it is not appropriate for such a person to be leading Salāh.

Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1]يجب عل المصلي أن يقدم الطهارة من الأحداث والأنجاس