If the imam forgets a verse in qira’ah, how should the congregation remind him about it?

If the imam forgets the verse he is reading aloud, are we supposed to correct him after he tries three times? If so, should we say the beginning of the verse or the whole verse? Should we say it aloud or with a low voice?

Dear Brother / Sister,

What are the conditions of reminding the imam of his mistake? In what cases does reminding the imam of his mistake invalidate prayer? 

If the imam makes a mistake, someone from the congregation can say "Subhanallah" aloud before the imam moves on to the next rukn (part). If the imam forgets a verse and if he has not read long enough for the prayer to be permissible, the congregation can correct him. Suppose that the imam wants to stand up without sitting for the first sitting and is close to standing than sitting, it is of no use to say "Subhanallah". If he stands up without sitting for the second sitting, it is appropriate to say "Subhanallah" even if he has stood up because the last sitting is fard. (Bahr ar-Raiq / Ibn Nujaym - al-Badayi' / Qasani)

If a person corrects somebody other than the imam in prayer, his prayer is invalidated. However, if it is related to qira’ah and if he reads the verse with the intention of reading, not reminding, his prayer is not invalidated. (al-Muhit / Sarakhsi)

If a person makes a mistake in prayer and if someone who is not praying corrects him and if he acts in accordance with the correction, his prayer is invalidated. (Munyatul-Musalli)

There are some conditions related to reminding the imam of his mistake. Some fiqh scholars determined a few conditions about it:

a) The person who reminds the imam should have the niyyah of reminding with it.

b) The imam must not be able to read long enough for the prayer to be permissible.

c) The imam must not move on to another chapter or verse after making a mistake or forgetting.

However, the soundest determination and fatwa regarding the issue is that none of them is necessary and reminding the imam of his mistake is permissible. That is, if a person reminds the imam without following the conditions above, the prayer of the imam or the person who reminds is not invalidated. That is the sound view. (al-Kafi / Marwazi – Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 1/99)

However, it is makruh for the congregation to hurry regarding the issue. It is appropriate to wait a bit when the imam forgets so that he might be able to remember.

According to the majority of the scholars, it is makruh to remind the imam without giving him any chance of remembering because, in that case, the person following the imam will read the Quran though there is no need. If the imam does not remember the remaining part of the verse, he bows down for ruku’ if he has read long enough for the prayer to be valid. If not, he will move on to another verse. Otherwise, it will be makruh. (al-Kafi / Marwazi)

If somebody who is not following the imam reminds the imam when he hesitates, the imam does not act in accordance with that person. He bows down for ruku’ if he has read long enough for the prayer to be valid. If not, he will move on to another verse. Otherwise, the prayer will be invalidated. (Bahr ar-Raiq / Ibn Nujaym - Qinya / Aburraja)

Men say “Subhanallah” in order to remind the imam of his mistake. Women clap their hands by hitting their right hands on their left hands.

As a matter of fact, a man who is performing a prayer says “Subhanallah” in order to warn the imam or to protect a blind person from a danger but a woman claps her hands. Sahl bin Sa'd as-Saidi says that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) stated the following regarding the issue:

«A person who encounters something important in prayer should say 'Subhanallah'. Women should clap their hands; men should say “Subhanallah”» (Ahmad bin Hanbal - Abu Dawud – Nasai)

(Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla İslam Fıkhı, Uysal Kitabevi: 1/341-342.)

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