Is the intention of leading prayer required for one who was previously a follower?
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The questioner : Also, the intention of following or the intention of leading is not required of the person. Some people say: He did not intend to be an imam, but only intended for himself, or he was a follower at first, so how can it be valid for him to become an imam?
The Shaykh : We say: There is nothing wrong with this. That is, a person moving from praying alone to leading prayer is not blameworthy, and his moving from praying alone to following is also not blameworthy. This is because there is no evidence prohibiting it, and matters have been reported that indicate its permissibility. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to pray the night prayer, and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was with him. Ibn Abbas stood up and prayed with him. It is known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not intend at the beginning to be an imam for Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). This story is famous and is established in the two Sahihs and others. It is clear evidence that it is permissible for a person to move from praying alone to leading prayer. Those who prohibited this said: This is in the night prayer, which is voluntary, so it is permissible in the voluntary prayer but not in the obligatory one. The answer to this is: What is established in the voluntary prayer is established in the obligatory prayer unless there is evidence. Therefore, when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray on his mount wherever it faced, they said: Except that he does not pray the obligatory prayer on it. This indicates that the original ruling is that what is established in the voluntary prayer is established in the obligatory prayer unless there is evidence distinguishing one from the other.
It is also established that a person moved from leading to following when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to lead the people in prayer. Abu Bakr entered the prayer, and during it, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) felt a lightness of illness. He came out and sat to the left of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and he began to lead the people while Abu Bakr was conveying the movements to them. This is a transition from leading to following. The original ruling is permissibility until evidence of prohibition is established.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward.
The Shaykh : We say: There is nothing wrong with this. That is, a person moving from praying alone to leading prayer is not blameworthy, and his moving from praying alone to following is also not blameworthy. This is because there is no evidence prohibiting it, and matters have been reported that indicate its permissibility. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to pray the night prayer, and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was with him. Ibn Abbas stood up and prayed with him. It is known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not intend at the beginning to be an imam for Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). This story is famous and is established in the two Sahihs and others. It is clear evidence that it is permissible for a person to move from praying alone to leading prayer. Those who prohibited this said: This is in the night prayer, which is voluntary, so it is permissible in the voluntary prayer but not in the obligatory one. The answer to this is: What is established in the voluntary prayer is established in the obligatory prayer unless there is evidence. Therefore, when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray on his mount wherever it faced, they said: Except that he does not pray the obligatory prayer on it. This indicates that the original ruling is that what is established in the voluntary prayer is established in the obligatory prayer unless there is evidence distinguishing one from the other.
It is also established that a person moved from leading to following when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to lead the people in prayer. Abu Bakr entered the prayer, and during it, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) felt a lightness of illness. He came out and sat to the left of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and he began to lead the people while Abu Bakr was conveying the movements to them. This is a transition from leading to following. The original ruling is permissibility until evidence of prohibition is established.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward.