If the Imam’s Ablution Breaks During Prayer

Question

If the imam’s ablution breaks while he is in the position of rukū‘, what should he do? Likewise, if it breaks during sujūd or during the final sitting (qa‘dah akhirah), what should he do?

Answer

The imam should bring forward one of the nearby followers (muqtadī) and place him in front as his deputy (khalīfah). This deputy completes the rukū‘, sujūd, or qa‘dah in which the ablution broke and then continues the rest of the prayer until it is completed. The original imam should leave, perform ablution, and then return.

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