Section Seven
Matters in which the imam’s prayer, if invalidated, renders the followers’ prayer invalid

The jurists are unanimously agreed that should the imam fall into a state of ritual impurity during the prayer and therefore break it off, the prayers of those behind him remain sound.

They differed, however, concerning a case in which he leads the congregation while in a state of major ritual impurity (janābah) and this is only discovered after the prayer is over.

• Some maintained that the followers’ prayer is valid.
• Others held that their prayer is invalid.
• A third group distinguished between the imam’s being aware of his impurity and his having forgotten it: if he was knowingly junub, their prayer is invalid; if he was unaware, their prayer stands.

The first opinion is that of al-Shāfiʿī, the second of Abū Ḥanīfah, and the third of Mālik.

The root of their disagreement is whether the validity of the follower’s prayer is intrinsically linked to the validity of the imam’s prayer.

• Whoever denies such a linkage says: “Their prayer is acceptable.”
• Whoever affirms it says: “Their prayer is invalid.”
• Those who differentiate between forgetfulness and deliberate intent rely on the outward sense of the Prophetic report in which the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—“pronounced the opening takbīr in a certain prayer, then signalled to the people to remain where they were, left, and returned with traces of water upon his body.”

Its plain sense is that the congregation continued with their prayer. Al-Shāfiʿī, however, argues that had the followers’ prayer truly depended on the imam’s, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would have been obliged to begin the prayer anew.

Third Chapter of the Third Part
Concerning the rulings of prayer

The discussion of this chapter’s principles is confined to four sections:

1. The obligation of the Friday Prayer and upon whom it is incumbent.
2. The conditions for the Friday Prayer.
3. The integrals (arkān) of the Friday Prayer.
4. Miscellaneous rulings related to the Friday Prayer.

Section One
On the obligation of the Friday Prayer and those upon whom it is obligatory

The majority of scholars hold that the Friday Prayer is a personal obligation, for it takes the place of another obligatory prayer, ẓuhr. Their view is also supported by the outward sense of the Almighty’s words:

“O you who believe, when the call is made for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade.” (al-Jumuʿah 62:9)