SECTION ON PRAYER · 74 – INVALIDATION OF THE IMAM'S ABLUTION
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) related:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “When the Imam finishes the prayer and sits down before speaking or giving the greeting, if his ablution is broken, his own prayer is complete. And so too is the prayer of those behind him who have completed it.”
EXPLANATION
If the Imam’s ablution is broken after he has sat down for the amount of time as the Tashahhud (declaration of faith) at the end of the prayer, then his and the prayers of those behind him who have finished are complete. If he does not sit for that long, [the prayer] is not complete.
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) related:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Purity is the key to prayer; the prohibition of prayer is takbir; and the permissibility of what was permissible outside [of prayer] is achieved through taslim.” [401]
EXPLANATION
Purity is the key to prayer. One may not enter prayer without purification.
Eating, drinking, and speaking are permissible outside of prayer. These become prohibited with the initial takbir. Taslim makes permissible what was forbidden during prayer. After giving salām, eating, drinking, and speaking become permissible.