A warning about an error that worshippers commit by racing the imam to say "Ameen"?
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It is necessary on an occasion like this to remind people of a matter that the masses of worshippers have long been negligent about. That matter is, unfortunately, almost a consensus on that error, which is:
That the followers race the imam with: "Ameen". The error is that the followers race the imam with "Ameen"; the imam has barely finished saying: before the followers rush in with "Ameen" before the imam himself begins to say "Ameen."
The hadith is explicit in the opposite of what the masses do today, where he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 936Sahih (Al-Albani) :
It is not permissible for the followers to race the imam with "Ameen," just as it is not permissible for them to race the imam with the takbir.Sunan Ibn Majah 1238Sahih (Darussalam):
The point is that this hadith, which is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik and others of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), states that it is not permissible for the followers to race the imam with any of the takbir, bowing, prostration, or what is between them. Likewise, it is not permissible for the followers to race the imam with "Ameen."
If you pay attention to this and listen when you pray a congregational prayer, you will find, unfortunately, that the masses of followers race the imam with "Ameen." Therefore, every follower of the imam, when he hears the imam say at the end of al-Fatihah:[Al-Fatihah 1:7], should restrain himself. He must control himself and not begin saying "Ameen" until he hears the imam begin saying "Ameen." Only then can the follower be considered to have followed the imam. But if the imam has not yet finished saying: and the followers have already preceded him with "Ameen," this is a clear error that contradicts the rule mentioned earlier in the hadith of Anas, and it also contradicts this specific hadith regarding "Ameen," which is agreed upon from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah. He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 936Sahih (Al-Albani). And among the favor of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) upon His believing servants is that He has made easy for them the causes that lead to the forgiveness of the Lord of the Worlds. This hadith is one of those, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us in this hadith that the forgiveness of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) for the worshippers is obtained only by not racing the imam with "Ameen," and by saying "Ameen" in accordance with the imam's "Ameen" after he says "Ameen." Whoever does that, Allah will forgive him what has passed of his sins. I repeat the hadith to you so that it is first firmly established in your minds, and then you may proceed in your action according to its requirement: Sunan Abi Dawud 936Sahih (Al-Albani). If I had not encountered this error in every mosque in every country I have visited or stayed in, I would not have mentioned this to you. And as Allah the Exalted said: [Adh-Dhariyat 51:55].
That the followers race the imam with: "Ameen". The error is that the followers race the imam with "Ameen"; the imam has barely finished saying:
nor those who go astray
ولا الضالينThe hadith is explicit in the opposite of what the masses do today, where he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When the Imam says Amin, say Amin
إذا أمن الإمام فأمنواWhen he says takbir, say takbir.
إذا كبر فكبرواIt is not permissible for the followers to race the imam with "Ameen," just as it is not permissible for them to race the imam with the takbir.
The Imam is appointed to be followed. When he says Allahu Akbar, then say Allahu Akbar; when he bows, then bow; when he says Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah, then say Rabbana wa lakal-hamd; when he prostrates then prostrate; and if he prays sitting down then pray sitting down.
إنما جُعل الإمام ليؤتم به فإذا كبر فكبروا، وإذا ركع فاركعوا، وإذا قال: سمع الله لمن حمده، فقولوا: ربنا ولك الحمد، وإذا سجد فاسجدوا، وإذا صلى قائماً فصلوا قياماً، وإذا صلى جالساً فصلوا جلوساً أجمعينThe point is that this hadith, which is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik and others of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), states that it is not permissible for the followers to race the imam with any of the takbir, bowing, prostration, or what is between them. Likewise, it is not permissible for the followers to race the imam with "Ameen."
If you pay attention to this and listen when you pray a congregational prayer, you will find, unfortunately, that the masses of followers race the imam with "Ameen." Therefore, every follower of the imam, when he hears the imam say at the end of al-Fatihah:
