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If both are entirely unaware that one of them is in a state of ritual impurity, then the prayer of the one who is not in such a state is valid, while the prayer of the one in a state of ritual impurity is invalid.
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If the one in a state of purification knows that his companion is in a state of ritual impurity, while his companion does not know, then both of their prayers are invalid. As for the one in a state of ritual impurity, this is obvious. As for the one in a state of purification, it is because he stood in the row with someone whose prayer he believes to be invalid; thus, he is standing alone.
An example of this is where the one in a state of purification heard the man break his ablution, while the other did not notice it himself and then stood and prayed. The one who prayed in a state of purification has prayed alongside someone whom he knows to be in a state of ritual impurity and whose prayer he knows to be invalid.
- If the one in a state of ritual impurity knows of his impurity, but the one who stood in the row with him does not know, then, according to the author’s position, both of their prayers are invalid.
The correct view is that the prayer of the one in a state of purification is not invalid, because he is excused due to his ignorance of his companion’s ritual impurity.
Or if he stands with a minor in an obligatory prayer, he is standing alone.
His statement, “Or if he stands with a minor in an obligatory prayer, he is standing alone,” means: Whoever has no one standing with him except a minor during an obligatory prayer is standing alone. What is meant here by “minor” is one who has not reached puberty.
By his statement, “in an obligatory prayer,” he excludes the case where a minor stands with him in a voluntary prayer, such as the night prayer of Ramadan. In short, if a minor stands with him behind the row and the prayer is obligatory, then he is standing alone; but if the prayer is voluntary, then standing together in the row is valid.
The reasoning is that an obligatory prayer is voluntary in the case of a minor; thus, one performing an obligatory prayer has stood beside one performing a voluntary prayer, so standing together in the row is not valid—just as his leading him in an obligatory prayer is not valid. Hence, if the minor stands with him in a voluntary prayer, his prayer is valid.
However, this reasoning is flawed for the following reasons: