Fatwaa ID: 921

Question:
Assalamu alaikum,

I have a few questions about taraweeh:

1. Last night the imam accidentally prayed one rakah and said salam, and then got up and prayed one more rakah with sajdah sahu, but in between it seemed like (from the tv) he spoke with those around him. I also spoke after the first rakah. Was that salah valid or should i repeat those two rakahs?
2. Generally to what extent are mistakes in recitation and tajweed allowed? If the imam made a mistake within the ayah such as skipping a word or going to a different ayah, is that Salah valid?
3. For the word النصارى if the imam stretched the alif after the ص longer than one alif and made the alif after the ر short so sounded like والنصارَ, was that salah valid?
4. If we missed a couple rakahs during taraweeh, are we allowed to pray witr with the imam and finish the rest of taraweeh afterwards?
5. When praying witr behind an imam who follows a different opinion and raises their hands during witr, should we do the same?

Jazakumullahu khairan, apologies for the lengthy questions

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. According to the Hanafi legal school, the salaah in reference was invalid. Istighfaar should be made. There is no repeating of Taraaweeh after its time.
2. As long as the mistake does not terribly distort the meaning, the salaah will remain valid.
3. The salaah was valid.
4. Yes. You should join the imaam for Witr and then make up the missed Taraaweeh afterwards.
5. No. The Hanafi muqtadee will keep his hands to the side.
   It should be noted that if the imaam is performing Witr with two salaams, i.e., Salaam after the second and then a single one rak’ah, that will not be valid for the Hanafi follower. He will have to repeat the Witr Salaah.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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