joined him in the prayer and stood on his left, whereupon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) moved him round to his right. Thus Ibn ʿAbbās entered the prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) partway through, even though the Prophet had begun the prayer alone; Ibn ʿAbbās attached himself to him during the prayer and the Prophet approved it. Whatever is permissible in a voluntary prayer is equally permissible in an obligatory one, unless there is specific evidence that differentiates between the two. And Allah knows best.

***
Praying While Not in a State of Minor Ablution

Question: The iqāmah was given while I was standing in the first row behind the imam. I prayed one rakʿah with the congregation, but then I remembered that my wuduʾ had been nullified. I did not know what to do while I was in the front row, so I completed the prayer with them. Please tell me what I should have done when I realized my ablution had been broken. Is my prayer valid because I avoided stepping over people’s necks, or is it invalid? Kindly advise us, and may Allah bless you.

Answer: Your prayer is invalid in any case, for as long as you are without minor ablution the prayer is not accepted from you. Allah the Exalted says, “O you who believe! When you rise to perform the prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe over your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles” (al-Māʾidah 5:6). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah does not accept the prayer of any one of you if he is in a state of impurity until he performs wuduʾ.” Accordingly, a prayer offered without minor ablution is invalid, and continuing with the prayer after knowing that you were not in a state of ritual purity is