Fatwa ID: 02375

Answered by: Molana Eunus Ali

Question:

I pray with my dad who leads salah initially standing and performs ruku' normally but for sajdah sits on chair and gestures the sajdah and sits on chair for tasshahud position. It has recently come to my attention that to follow my dad while he prays like this is invalid.

My question is all the salah that I performed behind my dad- do they have to be repeated and is a good estimate of the number of salah that I read behind him a sufficient way to know how to make up? (this would be a couple of years worth of salah as my dad said that its ok for him to lead salah in the manner he does)

Since learning of the invalidity of his imamat I still perform salah behind him out of respect, but then I repeat my salah individually. What should my intention for salah be when I follow his imamat?

Jazakallah Khair

Answer

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

It is not permissible for a person who is able to stand and perform salah to be led by a person who performs salah whilst sitting down, performing the ruku and sajdah through gestures. (Al-Binayah, Volume 2, Page 427, DarulFikr)

As the salah prayed behind your father were invalid they will need to be repeated. A careful calculation should be made of the number of salah that were performed behind your father, taking in to consideration how often he would lead the salah and when he started leading etc.

The scholars have suggested that one should offer one qadhasalah along with the fardhsalah they are performing for convenience. In this manner at least 5 qadhasalah will be made up for daily and when the opportunity arises one may perform additional qadhasalah. By doing it in this manner the salahs can be made up in an easily insha Allah without it becoming a burden. (Ask a Mufti, Volume 2, Page 100, JKN Publications)

As the salah performed behind your father is invalid, it should be avoided and if need be it should be explained to your father in a polite manner.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Eunus Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham