How to Follow the Imam
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What is the criterion for following the imam? Is it hearing the voice, or seeing the movement? Because the imam in our neighborhood says the takbir for prostration while he is still standing, and the people rush to prostrate before him. So what is the criterion, O Shaykh? And is their action correct?
The criterion is that the action is completed; because the takbir is a sign of it and evidence for it.I see the imam, so when he says: He says "Allahu Akbar" while he is standing, before he reaches the ground. And I see that he has not reached the ground, so I do not prostrate.According to the statement of al-Bara' ibn 'Azib: (The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he prostrated, none of us would bend our backs until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had prostrated, and then we would prostrate after him).
As for if you do not see him, then the function of hearing comes in. So act according to what you hear, and the imam is responsible for that. If he says the takbir while standing, the responsibility is on him.
And some people say the takbir while standing because they are praying (with the microphone), and when they say the takbir for prostration, it is not heard.And this is an error in two respects: First: using the loudspeaker in prayer has no basis and no need for it; because it will be heard by those who are outside the mosque, and those who are outside the mosque do not need it. Rather, it only increases their laziness.You find the lazy person, when he hears the imam on the balcony, says: He catches up with the imam in the second, and likewise in the third and fourth.Rather, in the statement of some scholars: If the prayer is caught up with the takbir of intention, then the prayer is missed while he is delaying.And for this reason, this is considered an error by some imams: First: There is no need for it.
Second: That it necessitates the lazy person continuing in his laziness.
Thirdly, and it is the most severe: That it disturbs other mosques, and even those who are praying in their homes. Have you seen a woman, for example, praying in her home while the imam is reciting and the volume is loud? She will be confused and disturbed. And this is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, where he heard his Companions reciting and raising their voices with the Qur'an while they were praying, and he said: (Let not some of you raise his voice over others in the Qur'an, or he said, in the recitation).
And we sometimes direct—praise be to Allah—in our country, and we have not heard anyone praying with a loudspeaker except on Friday.
The criterion is that the action is completed; because the takbir is a sign of it and evidence for it.I see the imam, so when he says: He says "Allahu Akbar" while he is standing, before he reaches the ground. And I see that he has not reached the ground, so I do not prostrate.According to the statement of al-Bara' ibn 'Azib: (The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he prostrated, none of us would bend our backs until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had prostrated, and then we would prostrate after him).
As for if you do not see him, then the function of hearing comes in. So act according to what you hear, and the imam is responsible for that. If he says the takbir while standing, the responsibility is on him.
And some people say the takbir while standing because they are praying (with the microphone), and when they say the takbir for prostration, it is not heard.And this is an error in two respects: First: using the loudspeaker in prayer has no basis and no need for it; because it will be heard by those who are outside the mosque, and those who are outside the mosque do not need it. Rather, it only increases their laziness.You find the lazy person, when he hears the imam on the balcony, says: He catches up with the imam in the second, and likewise in the third and fourth.Rather, in the statement of some scholars: If the prayer is caught up with the takbir of intention, then the prayer is missed while he is delaying.And for this reason, this is considered an error by some imams: First: There is no need for it.
Second: That it necessitates the lazy person continuing in his laziness.
Thirdly, and it is the most severe: That it disturbs other mosques, and even those who are praying in their homes. Have you seen a woman, for example, praying in her home while the imam is reciting and the volume is loud? She will be confused and disturbed. And this is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, where he heard his Companions reciting and raising their voices with the Qur'an while they were praying, and he said: (Let not some of you raise his voice over others in the Qur'an, or he said, in the recitation).
And we sometimes direct—praise be to Allah—in our country, and we have not heard anyone praying with a loudspeaker except on Friday.