What is your guidance regarding the issue of following the imam in the sitting between the two prostrations and the sitting in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : We were discussing the issue of the sitting between the two prostrations and observing whether the imam sits in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or not, I mean.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Because this is actually a new issue, I mean?
The Shaykh : I stated my opinion on the matter: that completing the following of the imam by the one praying behind him is part of the authentic hadith:Sahih al-Bukhari 1236 to the end of the hadith, as is well known. In it, he (peace be upon him) says: Sahih al-Bukhari 689. So we observe in the end of this hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) exempted the follower who is able to stand from standing, in order to achieve following in its most precise sense. So if he prays standing, you pray standing, and if he prays sitting, leave your standing and sit in the manner of your imam. So we take from this hadith a very important indication, which is: that the follower should, indeed must, follow the imam in his postures, as long as he sees that it is from the Sunnah. So all the more so if it is actually from the Sunnah.
So you know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) between the two prostrations would sometimes sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and sometimes sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So if we know that the imam does not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but rather sits in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is not permissible for us to sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as long as he is following the Sunnah. So we combine the established Sunnah with us, which here is sitting in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and our following of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the general rule mentioned previously, which is his saying (peace be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 1236. This is my view on the matter.
And I told you in the mosque that the observation may be visual or may be by knowledge, meaning: by being informed. So if we know that a certain imam does not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is not necessary for us to see with our own eyes that he does not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) so that we do not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, it is sufficient that we know that he sits in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and then we sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and do not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is what I have.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Because this is actually a new issue, I mean?
The Shaykh : I stated my opinion on the matter: that completing the following of the imam by the one praying behind him is part of the authentic hadith:
The Imam is to be followed
إنما جُعل الإمام ليُؤتمَّ بهand pray standing if he prays standing and pray sitting (all of you) if he prays sitting.
وإذا صلى قائمًا فصلوا قيامًا ، وإذا صلى جالسًا فصلوا جلوسًا أجمعينSo you know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) between the two prostrations would sometimes sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and sometimes sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So if we know that the imam does not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but rather sits in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is not permissible for us to sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as long as he is following the Sunnah. So we combine the established Sunnah with us, which here is sitting in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and our following of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the general rule mentioned previously, which is his saying (peace be upon him):
The Imam is to be followed
إنما جُعل الإمام ليُؤتمَّ بهAnd I told you in the mosque that the observation may be visual or may be by knowledge, meaning: by being informed. So if we know that a certain imam does not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is not necessary for us to see with our own eyes that he does not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) so that we do not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, it is sufficient that we know that he sits in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and then we sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and do not sit in the style of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is what I have.