The Shaykh’s clarification of a deviation committed by most worshippers, which is failing to synchronize their “Ameen” with the imam.

The Shaykh : But I do not want to miss the opportunity to remind you of a matter that the majority of worshippers neglect, and unfortunately, to a very great extent, in every mosque I have entered in the lands of Islam, without excluding even the Sacred Mosque, the worshippers fall into racing ahead of the imam without being aware of it. And because they are not aware of it, they commit a violation of the command of the Messenger (peace be upon him) first, and then they lose, due to this violation, the opportunity to attain the forgiveness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) second. I mean what the Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their *Sahih*s from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This text: is on the same pattern as ; that is, this is part of the complete following of the imam, as mentioned in the hadith of Anas previously cited in the previous speech: to the end of it, and in the other narration: . So, among the ways of neglecting the following of the imam and violating and differing from the imam is the racing ahead of the imam by the majority of worshippers with “Ameen.” The racing ahead of the imam with “Ameen” by the majority of worshippers—I do not mean myself, but all the imams of the mosques—the followers behind them do this; they differ from them by preceding them with “Ameen.” The imam hardly finishes and reaches the last verse of al-Fatihah in his recitation, saying “and not the astray,” before he settles the nun of “al-dallin,” you find the crowd has erupted and resounded with “Ameen,” while he has not yet completed the verse first, and then they do not give him the space second to pause at the beginning of the verse, as is the recommended practice, and take a fresh breath to let them hear him begin with “Ameen” so that they may follow him. So they precede him, as if they have reversed the function. Their function is to follow the imam, and they have made the imam follow them, because they precede him with “Ameen.” This is one of the wonders of the violations that occur in every mosque. So I hope first: that the majority of worshippers will be aware of this violation so that they do not fall into it and lose twice: the first time: they violate the command of the Messenger of Allah: ; the second time: which is the result of the first violation: that they do not attain the forgiveness of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). And reflect on the favor of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) upon this Muslim community, where He arranged for them a humbling, easy, and simple reason. Why? So that they may obtain the forgiveness of their Lord with the least of reasons, which is that they control their breaths, listen to the recitation of their imam, and be attentive to his beginning with “Ameen” so that they may begin with him with “Ameen.”
Look at this reason, how easy it is. Then reflect with me on how many are the losers of this forgiveness due to their heedlessness and their submission to their customs and traditions without being aware of the command of their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I repeat the hadith. He (peace be upon him) said: . It is upon the followers to listen first and contemplate the recitation of the imam. So when the imam is about to finish reciting al-Fatihah and reaches the last verse of it, they should hold their breaths in their chests, and observe the imam’s beginning with his saying: “Ameen.” So when he begins, let them begin. The scholars who explain this hadith have interpreted it with two interpretations: one is: what I mentioned just now: when he begins with “Ameen,” you begin. The other, which is safer for these crowds who have been heedless of this recommended practice, or rather of this noble Prophetic command, is: when the imam finishes his saying “Ameen,” then you begin with “Ameen.” This is safer and more restraining of the rushing soul and holding the breath in the chest, so that the follower can achieve not racing ahead of the imam. Because if he synchronizes his “Ameen” with the imam’s “Ameen,” Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will forgive his sins, as you heard. So I advise you to be aware of this matter and not to live like this, heedlessly with those who are heedless of this virtue and of this explicit command which says: . I ask Allah, the Great, Lord of the Noble Throne, to forgive our sins and to inspire us to act according to the rulings of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Yes.

The questioner : In the Arabic language, it occurred as preceding, following, and accompanying. As for preceding, it is in His saying (the Exalted): . This is before the recitation. And following, as in His saying: . As for accompanying, we can take it as in the other narration: فإذا قال : وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ فقولوا : آمين When he says: “and not the astray,” then say: “Ameen.”.

The Shaykh: All right.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Did the racing ahead occur according to the other narration, or did the synchronization occur?

The questioner : How, my Shaykh?

The Shaykh : Did the prohibited racing ahead occur, or did the commanded synchronization occur?

The questioner : The synchronization, if we take “if” to mean synchronization, not preceding or following.

The Shaykh : Understood, understood in this expression: إذا قال الإمام : غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ فقولوا : آمين When the imam says: "Not those upon whom is Your anger, nor those who go astray," then say: "Ameen." Did the synchronization with the imam’s “Ameen” occur, or did the racing ahead occur?

The questioner : Perhaps it was racing ahead.

The Shaykh : Leave it, and may Allah bless you.

The questioner : When the imam says “Ameen.”

The Shaykh : Perhaps it coincides with its counterpart. So what do we benefit? Neither you nor I. Look, may Allah bless you. First, this narration you mentioned, this narration is concise: وإذا قال الإمام وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ فقولوا : آمين ، فإن الإمام يقول : آمين And when the imam says: "Nor those who go astray," then say: "Ameen," for the imam says: "Ameen.". So this narration meets that narration.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So it must be one of the two interpretations: when he begins, begin, or when he finishes, begin. And this second interpretation, although I do not lean toward it, but given the people’s habit of violating, it is more beneficial and safer for them so that they do not first fall into racing ahead, and then do not lose the virtue of forgiveness.
And with this amount is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The questioner : The worshipper is in a place and...

Another questioner : Our Shaykh, if you could give a small word about standing at ‘Arafah.