Chapter on the Rulings of Congregational Prayer (the Minimum Number for Congregational Prayer, the Description of the Imam, Who Is to Be Followed and Who Is Not to Be Followed, Recitation Behind Both of Them, the Rulings of Those Led in Prayer, and Other Such Rulings Related to It)

As for what was narrated by Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from al-Hasan ibn Ali, from al-Hakam ibn Miskin, from Muawiyah ibn Shurayh, who said: I heard Aba Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, say: “If the imam (of prayer) becomes invalidated (enters a state of hadath) during the prayer, then no one should step forward except one who was present at the iqamah. So when the mu’adhdhin says, 'Qad qamatis-salah' (the prayer has been established), it is proper for those in the mosque to rise to their feet and appoint one among them, and not to wait for the imam (of prayer).” He (Ibn Shurayh) said: “I asked, ‘Even if the imam (of prayer) is the one who gave the adhan?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “Even if he is, they should not wait for him and should appoint one among them.”