Some of the imam’s mistakes that need correcting but do not invalidate the prayer

Question

The imam of our neighbourhood mosque, when leading the prayer, does the following things, which are contrary to the sunna and to the etiquette (adab) of the prayer. Is the prayer valid despite these mistakes of his or not? And is the prayer of the muqtadis (followers) valid or not? (1) When the imam stands on the prayer mat to lead the prayer, the big toe of his right foot does not stay in its original place during ruku‘ and sajda.

Answer

(1) The prayer did not become fasid (invalid) because of this, but it should be corrected. (2) The ruling on this is the same. (3) The answer to this too is the same. (4) The ruling on this is the same. (5) The ruling on this is the same. (6) The ruling on this is the same. The prayer is valid in all these cases, and no defect arises in the iqtida’ (following the imam)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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