Question 80 :  Assalaamu ‘alaykum Dear Shaikhs,

If someone is imam in the prayer, when they do Du’aa does it have to be in plural?

Example: dua of opening – اللهم باعد بيني وبين خطاياي

Would that have to be changed to:

اللهم باعد بيننا وبين خطايانا

Etc.?

Answer : Assalamualaikum Brother,

Scholars said that when a person is Imaam, he should supplicate for the whole congregation and not just himself. This is the case in audible supplications. During silent ones, the Imaam may supplicate for himself only.

There is a Hadith reported by Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah and others, where the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: “…no person should lead others in prayer, then supplicate for himself and not for them. If he does that, he has betrayed them.” Scholars of Hadith differed regarding its authenticity, but Ibn Hajar and some others said it is Hasan.