Q. As salam alay Kum Wa rahmat ul Lahee a Barakatuhu
We went out for dawah with the jammat at isha time one of the Jammat member stepped forward to lead the isha Salat, the Ameer of the Jammat reminded everyone that we will be praying QASR (Trimming four raka’s to two due to traveling). So everyone made their niat as such. The imam stood up after the first tashahud and people in the congregation reminded him according to the prescribed method. however, The Imam continued to finish 4 raka’s and performed salam. Some brothers requested the Imam that he should have performed sajdah sahoo while some maintained its fine. It was then recommended that everyone just follow the ameer’s decision and we ended up repeating two raka’s again and called it a day. Although we cannot change what happened but does a situation like this warrant sahoo where there is a difference in niyat between the imam and muqtadee according to the hanafi jurists knowing that the difference is not in anything except in the Raka’s of Salah?
A.
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May Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) bless you for taking out the time to send your query to us.
Facts:
General consensus is that the Imaams niyah overrides those that follow him. Followers niyah does not affect the Imaam.
Lets come out of the Hanafee box for a moment:
Had the imaam been part of the Mazhab of Imaam Shafee and Hanbal, he would be allowed to make the niyah of performing four rakats instead of making the salaah as part of the two rakat Qasr. In such a situation, the Imaam would not have to repeat the salaah. Insisting upon repeating the salaah would prove as part of ignorance upon insisting parties.
Back into the hanafee box:
Had the Imaam been part of the hanafee Mazhab and intentionally refused correction after the 2nd rakat, this would make repeating the salaah permissible, more so, if each member including the Imaam announced that they were going to perform two rakats Qasr. Had the Imaam not heard the follower’s correction, repetition would not be necessary and the group would be absolved of their fard obligation.
No need would exist to repeat the salaah. Followers of the Imaam should be more aware of the Imaams doings and should have called out subhanallah, or even Allah huAkbar more clearly, so as to aid the Imaam to go back into the final sitting posture. Not doing so did not negate the salaah.
The extra two rakats that made the salaah into four rakats would count as nafl. Not doing sajdah sahw did not have negated the salah. Doing sajdah sahw would not have enhanced the salaah, either. The correct thing would be to not make sajdah sawh.
Allah Certainly Knows Best.
(Now we appreciate and understand why one true faqeeh (of course, we are referring to the major fuqaha) researching a ruling for the Ummah in a remote part of the world is more hurtful on shaytan then a group of people choosing to reamin non-scholars in the path of Allah. However, we aspire to be both — fuqaha with all our research materials in the path of Allah!)