Question Summary:
Will the imam’s action invalidate the followers Salah?

Question Detail:

is it possible for the imaam to invalidate the followers prayer, please give answer in much detail, possibly with many examples and what to do if we fall in to different situations. one example i want to give, if i follow the imaam in prayer and he says allaahu akbar but makes mistake when saying allaahu akbar to the extent it sounds nothing like the takbeer, does that invalidate my salaah even though i say it correctly???

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
You refer to two issues in your query:
(1)  Can the Imam’s action invalidate the followers Salaah?
(2)  Reciting the takbeer incorrectly.
 
In principle, the validity of the follower’s prayer depends upon the validity of the   Imam’s prayer. If the Imam’s prayer is invalidated due to whatever reason, for example, his wudhu expires, then that will also invalidate the follower’s prayer.[1]
You refer to the takbeere tahreema (Allahu Akbar) pronounced by the Imaam. You state ‘it sounds nothing like the takbeer’. Kindly explain how the takbeer was pronounced. You did not enquire about his recitation (qiraat) in Salaah!
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad IV Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.