Following the Imam in Omitting Some Recommended Practices, Such as Raising the Hands

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Some people cited the hadith, "The imam is appointed to be followed, so do not differ with him," to argue that if the imam omits some recommended practices, such as raising the hands when bowing,

The Shaykh:
Yes, they cited it.

The questioner:
because the imam is to be followed and one should not differ with him, they argue that if the imam omits some recommended practices, such as raising the hands when bowing, then the one praying behind him should omit it as well, following his imam. So that

The Shaykh:
he is not followed if he does what is prescribed. But if he leaves something of what is prescribed, he is not followed in leaving it. If the imam raises his hands when saying the takbir, the one praying behind him raises his hands. If the imam does not hold his hands below his navel or below his chest while standing, the one praying behind him holds his hands, because the imam left a recommended practice, so he is not followed in leaving the recommended practice.