Is providing a verse (Fath 'ala) to an Imam who forgets a verse during recitation permissible?
Chapter on the Two Prostrations of Forgetfulness
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is permissible to prompt the Imam with the correct recitation when he hesitates or repeats a verse, both in obligatory and voluntary prayers. This view is narrated from Uthman, Ali, and Ibn Umar, and was held by scholars such as 'Ata, Al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, Ibn Ma'qal, Nafi' ibn Jubayr ibn Mut'im, Abu Asma al-Rahbi, and Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami. The evidence includes reports that the Prophet's companions refrained from prompting him when he paused in recitation during Fajr prayer, implying that they would have done so if necessary. Another report shows the Prophet asking someone why they did not remind him when he omitted a verse. This action is considered prompting the Imam with something prescribed within the prayer, akin to Tasbih.
Supporting text
Ibn Mas'ud, Shurayh, Al-Sha'bi, and Al-Thawri disliked this practice. Abu Hanifa ruled that the prayer is invalidated based on a narration from Al-Harith where Ali stated the Messenger of Allah said, 'Do not open the recitation for the Imam.' However, the authenticity of this narration is questioned, as Al-Sha'bi stated Al-Harith was a liar, and Abu Dawud mentioned Abu Ishaq heard only four authentic hadiths from Al-Harith, implying this was not one of them.