The Principle of Istikhlaf
Istikhlaf means appointing a qualified member of the congregation to step forward into the Mihrab and complete the prayer on behalf of the original Imam without speaking or invalidating the Jamaat.
istikhlaf
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12 — What Is Istikhlaf (استخلاف)?
Detailed educational explanation of appointing a replacement Imam in Hanafi Fiqh.
Reviewed by Dar-ul-Ifta Research Desk
Last Reviewed: 2026-09-01
📚 Verified References & Sources
Authentic Hanafi SourcesFatawa Razawiyya (Volume 8 — Kitab-us-Salah)
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (A‘la Hazrat)
Comprehensive rulings on Shar‘i travel distance, conditions of becoming a Musafir, Qaṣr obligatory nature, and Jamaat rules.
Volume: Volume 8Section: Bab Salat-ul-Musafir
Dar-ul-Ifta Ahl-e-Sunnat Official Fatwa Archive
Dar-ul-Ifta Ahl-e-Sunnat (Dawat-e-Islami)
Official verified rulings on Istikhlaf conditions, replacement Imam eligibility, and missed travel Salah.
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