A Guiding Address to the Imams of Mosques
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Allah says in Surat al-Mu'minun: [The Believers: 1-2] Some of the imams—may Allah guide them—hasten in the prayer, which forces some people to leave the prayer in the mosque in the neighborhood where they live and move to another one.
This question requires a guiding word to the imams: Is the imam praying for himself, or is he praying for himself and for others?Answer: He prays for himself and for others, so he must take the people into consideration, without excess or deficiency.Meaning: No excess in the sense of prolonging it for them beyond what the Sunnah established, and no deficiency in the sense of shortening it below what the Sunnah established. A person who prays alone may lengthen it or shorten it below what the Sunnah established, provided he has fulfilled the obligatory requirements, and if he wishes, he may follow the Sunnah. But the imam must follow the Sunnah. Why? Because he is a trustee over the people, and a trustee must do what is best.As Allah said regarding the orphan's wealth: [The Cattle: 152] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Mu'adh ibn Jabal, and to another man who prolonged the Fajr prayer: "When one of you leads the people, he should shorten the prayer". The meaning of "he should shorten" is: he should not prolong it beyond what the Sunnah established. For a person does not pray only for himself, but for himself and for others. Therefore, he is obligated to adhere to the Sunnah in this regard, and he should not be concerned with the criticism of a critic.He might say: If I have brought the Sunnah,Some people might say: If I have prolonged it,But if he falls short of the Sunnah, who is the one to say to him: If I have fallen short? Allah (Mighty and Majestic) on the Day of Resurrection will hold him accountable on that day; he will have no escape and no excuse.But today he has an excuse, saying: I have brought the Sunnah. Bring me evidence that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) shortened what I said or did, and I will follow him.As for me bringing the Sunnah and you saying: If I have prolonged it, was not the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) the most careful of people regarding trust? Yes.
And yet, he would recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday (Al-Muzzammil - The Prostration) in the first rak'ah, and (Has the Time Come) in the second rak'ah. He might recite (Surat al-Tur) in the Maghrib prayer, and he might recite (Surat al-A'raf) in it. So where is the deviation from the Sunnah? The imam is obligated not to hasten at a speed that prevents the followers from performing the Sunnah, because he is a trustee.And as for His saying: People might say: You prolonged it.
This is no excuse for him; it will not benefit him with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). But he should not exceed what the Sunnah established, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) became angry about this and prohibited it.
If your imam does not allow you to fulfill the obligatory requirements, seek another imam. Even if we assume that you joined a person after the prayer had passed, and then you saw that he is hastening at a speed that prevents you from fulfilling the obligatory requirements, separate from him and complete the prayer for yourself.
(1) Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (2) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَThis question requires a guiding word to the imams: Is the imam praying for himself, or is he praying for himself and for others?Answer: He prays for himself and for others, so he must take the people into consideration, without excess or deficiency.Meaning: No excess in the sense of prolonging it for them beyond what the Sunnah established, and no deficiency in the sense of shortening it below what the Sunnah established. A person who prays alone may lengthen it or shorten it below what the Sunnah established, provided he has fulfilled the obligatory requirements, and if he wishes, he may follow the Sunnah. But the imam must follow the Sunnah. Why? Because he is a trustee over the people, and a trustee must do what is best.As Allah said regarding the orphan's wealth:
And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best
وَلا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُAnd yet, he would recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday (Al-Muzzammil - The Prostration) in the first rak'ah, and (Has the Time Come) in the second rak'ah. He might recite (Surat al-Tur) in the Maghrib prayer, and he might recite (Surat al-A'raf) in it. So where is the deviation from the Sunnah? The imam is obligated not to hasten at a speed that prevents the followers from performing the Sunnah, because he is a trustee.And as for His saying: People might say: You prolonged it.
This is no excuse for him; it will not benefit him with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). But he should not exceed what the Sunnah established, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) became angry about this and prohibited it.
If your imam does not allow you to fulfill the obligatory requirements, seek another imam. Even if we assume that you joined a person after the prayer had passed, and then you saw that he is hastening at a speed that prevents you from fulfilling the obligatory requirements, separate from him and complete the prayer for yourself.