Chapter: An Imam Who Breaks His Wudhu During Prayer and Leaves; What Should Those Behind Him Do?

• Ahmad was asked about an Imam who breaks his wudhu while bowing (ruku'); how does he appoint a man to replace him? He said: "As for me, I prefer that if the Imam breaks his wudhu during prayer, he should inform those behind him, and they should restart the prayer."

• I asked Ishaq about an Imam who led a group in prayer, then his ablution was invalidated, and he left the prayer without appointing a man to replace him; what should those behind him do? He said: "If they wish, they may pray by appointing a man, and if each one of them prays the remainder of their prayer individually, it is permissible. However, I prefer that the Imam appoint a man. If he does so because he intends to perform wudhu and then return to lead them in the remainder of their prayer, and he acts accordingly for that reason, then it is permissible, for both [methods] are practiced."

• Ahmad was also asked about an Imam who led a group in prayer for one rak'ah, then remembered that he was not in a state of ablution, or had a nosebleed? He said: "They should restart the prayer; that is more beloved to me." It was said to him: "[What about] the hadith of Ibn 'Umar and 'Ali regarding the nosebleed, that he may continue [the prayer] provided he has not spoken?" He said: "The hadith of 'Ali is mudtarib (fluctuating/inconsistent); Sufyan says: 'From al-Harith, from 'Ali,' and Shu'bah says: 'From 'Asim.'"

• Ahmad said: "I choose that they should restart the prayer." The hadith of 'Umar was mentioned to him, that he said: "He repeats, and they do not repeat." He said: "This is not like that; because 'Umar had already prayed, and that was upon the completion of the prayer, whereas these [people] had not yet completed the prayer."

Chapter: If He Breaks His Wudhu During Prayer, How Should He Leave?

• I asked Ishaq ibn Ibrahim, I said: "A man whose ablution is invalidated while he is in prayer; how should he leave?" He said: "He departs, performs wudhu, and then returns (yuthni)." I said: "Does he turn his face away from the qiblah?" He said: "Is there any way to avoid that?!"