The ruling on the follower deviating from the imam in some recommended practices
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His Eminence the Shaykh: What is the ruling on performing some of the recommended practices and slightly lagging behind the imam, such as the resting sitting and the leaning forward in prayer? Does this require the follower to follow the imam in the prayer, or to perform these acts? May Allah reward you with good?
The principle is to agree with the imam in actions, and by agreement I mean following him by performing the act immediately after the imam.
This is the Sunnah. As for what does not require lagging behind the imam, such as sitting in a leaning-forward position between the two prostrations while the imam is sitting cross-legged, or sitting in a cross-legged position in the final tashahhud while the imam is sitting cross-legged, this is not considered a deviation. Or raising one's hands when bowing and when rising from bowing, while the imam does not do so; this is not considered a deviation because it does not involve lagging behind. As for the resting sitting, it does involve lagging behind, but because it is a slight lag, we do not say it is forbidden. Rather, we say it is better that you do not sit if the imam does not sit. As the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in the Fatawa: It is better for the follower, if he considers the resting sitting a Sunnah and the imam does not consider it so, to follow his imam; because following the imam is better. And the same applies in the reverse case: if the imam considers the sitting and you do not, then if he sits, you sit; because following is more complete. So whatever causes the follower to lag behind the imam, he should not do it. And whatever does not cause that, but is merely a difference in the manner of the act, there is no harm in it, and it is not considered a deviation.
The principle is to agree with the imam in actions, and by agreement I mean following him by performing the act immediately after the imam.
This is the Sunnah. As for what does not require lagging behind the imam, such as sitting in a leaning-forward position between the two prostrations while the imam is sitting cross-legged, or sitting in a cross-legged position in the final tashahhud while the imam is sitting cross-legged, this is not considered a deviation. Or raising one's hands when bowing and when rising from bowing, while the imam does not do so; this is not considered a deviation because it does not involve lagging behind. As for the resting sitting, it does involve lagging behind, but because it is a slight lag, we do not say it is forbidden. Rather, we say it is better that you do not sit if the imam does not sit. As the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in the Fatawa: It is better for the follower, if he considers the resting sitting a Sunnah and the imam does not consider it so, to follow his imam; because following the imam is better. And the same applies in the reverse case: if the imam considers the sitting and you do not, then if he sits, you sit; because following is more complete. So whatever causes the follower to lag behind the imam, he should not do it. And whatever does not cause that, but is merely a difference in the manner of the act, there is no harm in it, and it is not considered a deviation.