Matters that the Imam bears on behalf of the ma'mum in prayer

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta

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The first question of Fatwa number ( 17572 )
Q1: What are the matters that the Imam bears on behalf of the ma'mum in prayer ?
A1 : A group of scholars mentioned that the Imam bears seven things on behalf of the ma'mum: 1 - Recitation : Based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:

So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

[Al-A'raf 7:204]

, and Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him)
said: "The people agreed that this verse is about prayer." This is based on what was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:

Whoever has an imam, then his recitation is for him

من كان له إمام فقراءته له قراءة

Sunan ad-Daraqutni 3:313

, narrated by Imam Ahmad in the Masail of his son Abdullah . The correct view is that it is obligatory for the ma'mum to recite al-Fatihah in the secret prayers, and during the pauses of the Imam in the loud prayers. If the Imam does not pause, the ma'mum recites al-Fatihah and then listens, acting in accordance with the authentic, general hadiths, and to avoid the strong disagreement on this matter. 2 - Sujud al-sahw : If he joins the Imam from the beginning of the prayer, according to the majority of scholars, because the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would make mistakes behind him that would obligate prostration for them if they were praying alone, and it is not reported that any of them prostrated after the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) taslim. If it had been prescribed, they would have done it, and if they had done it, it would have been reported. 3 - Sujud al-tilawah : If he recites a verse of prostration in his prayer and his Imam does not prostrate; because if he prostrated, he would contradict his Imam and his prayer would become invalid. 4 - The sutrah : The sutrah of the Imam is a sutrah for those behind him; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray with his Companions facing a sutrah and did not order them to cover themselves with anything, and this is recorded in the two Sahihs, and Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him)
titled the chapter: "The sutrah of the Imam is a sutrah for those behind him." 5 - The du'a of qunut : Where he hears it, the ma'mum only says "Ameen"; because this is what is prescribed. 6 - The first tashahhud : If he is ahead by one rak'ah in a four-rak'ah prayer; so that he does not differ from his Imam. 7 - Saying: "Allah hears [the praise of] whoever praises Him" : Based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):

And when he says: Allah listens to him who praises Him, you should say: O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise, for Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has vouchsafed (us) through the tongue of His Apostle (ﷺ) that Allah listens to him who praises Him.

وإذا قال سمع الله لمن حمده فقولوا: اللهم ربنا لك الحمد يسمع الله لكم

Sahih Muslim 404a

, narrated by Muslim from the hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him), and other hadiths on this matter. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.

Source www.alifta.gov.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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