If the follower precedes the imam in prayer, what is the ruling on that?
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The questioner : If the follower precedes the imam in prayer, what is the ruling on that?
The Shaykh : If the follower precedes the imam in prayer, and if his precedence is by the takbir of ihram, then the follower’s prayer is not established, and he must repeat the prayer. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 414a He said, (peace and blessings be upon him): He ordered the takbir after the imam’s takbir. If the follower says the takbir of ihram before his imam, he has done an act that is not commanded by Allah and His Messenger. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 1718b.
If the follower precedes the imam by something other than the takbir of ihram, such as preceding him in ruku', and if he precedes him to ruku' by bowing before his imam, we tell him: it is obligatory for you to return and bow after your imam, meaning after he bows. If he does not do so and does not return, then if he did not know that preceding to a pillar is forbidden, his prayer is valid. If he knew that preceding to a pillar is forbidden, the scholars differed on the validity of his prayer. Some said: it is not valid, and this is the correct opinion, because he committed a forbidden act in his prayer, so it became invalid, like all the forbidden acts that a person commits in his worship, indeed like all forbidden acts in worship if a person commits them. As for the one who said: his prayer is not valid, he says that he has sinned, but he is not required to repeat it. However, if he preceded him by the pillar, meaning he preceded the imam to the pillar and finished it before the imam reached it, such as bowing and rising before his imam bows, then if he did it intentionally, his prayer is invalid. If he was ignorant or forgetful, it is not invalid. But the jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that he must repeat the rak'ah after his imam. This is if the precedence is by the pillar of ruku'. As for a pillar other than ruku', such as sujud, this does not have the ruling of precedence by ruku' unless it is a precedence by two pillars. This is what the jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned in this issue. Yes.
The questioner : A listener from the Republic of North Yemen says.
The Shaykh : If the follower precedes the imam in prayer, and if his precedence is by the takbir of ihram, then the follower’s prayer is not established, and he must repeat the prayer. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The Imam is appointed, so that he should be followed, so don't be at variance with him. Recite takbir when he rec
إنما جعِل الإمام ليؤتم به فلا تختلفوا عليه، فإذا كبّر فكبّرواWhen he says the takbir, say the takbir.
إذا كبّر فكبّرواHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردIf the follower precedes the imam by something other than the takbir of ihram, such as preceding him in ruku', and if he precedes him to ruku' by bowing before his imam, we tell him: it is obligatory for you to return and bow after your imam, meaning after he bows. If he does not do so and does not return, then if he did not know that preceding to a pillar is forbidden, his prayer is valid. If he knew that preceding to a pillar is forbidden, the scholars differed on the validity of his prayer. Some said: it is not valid, and this is the correct opinion, because he committed a forbidden act in his prayer, so it became invalid, like all the forbidden acts that a person commits in his worship, indeed like all forbidden acts in worship if a person commits them. As for the one who said: his prayer is not valid, he says that he has sinned, but he is not required to repeat it. However, if he preceded him by the pillar, meaning he preceded the imam to the pillar and finished it before the imam reached it, such as bowing and rising before his imam bows, then if he did it intentionally, his prayer is invalid. If he was ignorant or forgetful, it is not invalid. But the jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that he must repeat the rak'ah after his imam. This is if the precedence is by the pillar of ruku'. As for a pillar other than ruku', such as sujud, this does not have the ruling of precedence by ruku' unless it is a precedence by two pillars. This is what the jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned in this issue. Yes.
The questioner : A listener from the Republic of North Yemen says.