The istisqa' prayer without wudu' and purity

Question

(1) People went to perform the istisqa' prayer, and there Zayd ordered them: “Pray!” Those who were without purity (tahara) and without wudu' refused. At this Zayd said: “Stand up, O servants of Allah! Allah knows the state of the heart.” After that, at his word, they prayed without purity and wudu'. (2) For the istisqa' prayer, when water is available at a distance of one furlong (≈ 201 m), is tayammum permissible or not? (3) An imam is impotent. Is prayer behind him permissible or not?

Answer

(1) The istisqa' prayer too is not permissible without wudu' and without purity; it is a sin. (2) If there is a fear that by the time one makes wudu' and comes back one will not catch the prayer, then tayammum is permitted. (3) It is valid, but a man is better.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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