The Imam Forgot the Qunut and Went into Ruku', Then Stood, Recited the Qunut and Performed Ruku' and Sajda

Question

The imam is leading the witr prayer in Ramadan; in the third rak'a he forgot the qunut supplication and went into ruku', that is, he bowed well down, and many of the muqtadis (followers) prompted [him] with “Allahu akbar”. Then the imam, taking the prompt, stood up straight, said the takbir, recited the qunut supplication and then went into ruku' [again]. Is this witr valid or not? Please answer according to the Shari'a and give a reference to a book.

Answer

When the imam, having forgotten the qunut supplication, went into ruku', he should not have returned. However, since he did return and recited the qunut supplication, there was then no need to repeat the ruku'; and even if he did repeat the ruku', the prayer is still valid, provided that sajda al-sahw was performed.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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