The followers standing in front of the imam
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 5936 )
Q1: Is it permissible for the imam to stand behind the congregation while the congregation is in front of him and he prays with them?
A1: It is the Sunnah for the followers to stand behind the imam; if they stand
in front of him, their prayer is invalid; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 1236 , and because what is transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding his leading of prayer is that he was in front, and the followers were behind him. The Imams Abu Hanifah , al-Shafi'i , and Ahmad said this. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr mentioned that Imam Malik disliked a follower standing in front of his imam, and there is no need to repeat the prayer if he did so. It was also reported from him that if he prayed in front of his imam without dire necessity, he would repeat it. The correct view is the view of the majority that the prayer of a follower in front of the imam is invalid; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6008 . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: Is it permissible for the imam to stand behind the congregation while the congregation is in front of him and he prays with them?
A1: It is the Sunnah for the followers to stand behind the imam; if they stand
in front of him, their prayer is invalid; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The Imam is to be followed
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم بهoffer your prayers in the way you saw me offering my prayers
صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.