QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What intention should the Imām have at the time of performing the congregational salāh?

Questioner: Shahid from India

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

There is no specific intention mentioned in the books of Fiqh for the Imām, he should just have the intention of Imāmah [leading] and then lead the salāh, and intention is the intending of the heart. The same things are necessary for him which are also necessary for a person praying on their own, for example, specifying whether Fard, etc. However, if there are women praying behind such an Imām, then it is also essential for the Imām to have the intention of leading the salāh for females as well, otherwise their salāh will not be fulfilled.

Just as it is stated in Hāshiyah Tahāwī,

“ولا تصير المرأة داخلة في صلاة الإمام إلا أن ينوي إمامتها”

“Females will not be included in the salāh of the Imām, unless the Imām intends to lead them as well.”

[Hāshiyah Tāhawī, vol 1, pg 290]

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0661] What intention should the Imam have at the time of performing the congregational prayer

Also see:

[Q-ID0369] What are the pre-conditions to lead the prayer as Imam?

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