Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My question goes this way: 3 people are praying zuhr. After the first 2 Raka`ats, another person join them (say A), then the Imam has to leave the prayer at the 3rd raka`at because his abulution suddenly brake. When presenting another person to lead the prayer he presented A, who has to carry over 2 raka`ats at the end of the prayer. How is this situation going to be reconciled? 

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Answer:

Imam breaks wudu in prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: How is this situation going to be reconciled? 

First and foremost, if the ‘imam’ were to invalidate his ‘wudu’ after the completion of only the second ‘rakah’ in a four ‘rakah’ prayer, it would have been best for him to invite one amongst the two brothers who started the prayer with him to lead the rest of the prayer.

But lets say for whatever reason, the ‘imam’ happens to choose the third person (Br. A) who joined them later to lead the prayers; the believers praying behind will offer their prayers behind the new ‘imam’ until their four rakahs are completed. When the new ‘imam’ stands up to complete his fourth rakah, the believers praying behind will not stand up with the ‘imam’, but rather remain seated till the ‘new’ imam has completed his prayer and sits for the final ‘tashahud’….and then all of them will terminate the prayer with the ‘imams’ declaration of the ‘tasleems’.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan