Praying Behind the Imam When the Lights Go Out

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: During the taraweeh prayer if the light goes out and those far from the imam (like the women) are not able to hear the imam (till the generator is switched on which takes upto 5-7 mins) what should be done? Should they wait in whatever position they were in, complete the rest on their own, or say salaam and join in again when the light comes?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states. Please pardon me for the undue delay in response.

The conditions for being a follower in congregational prayer include knowledge of the imam’s movements or position in the prayer. [Maraqi al-Falah]

So in any scenario where a follower loses that knowledge, he or she can no longer be a follower (since they do not know what to follow), and hence the prayer would be broken for them. So in the scenario you describe, each lady would have to restart the prayer on her own.

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani