If the imam recites qunut in every Fajr prayer, is it permissible for me not to recite it with him, or is following the imam obligatory?
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The questioner : Shaykh, this is a question that constantly comes to mind for me.
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
The questioner : This is a phenomenon in this country, meaning the constant qunut in the Fajr prayer. I asked Shaykh Mustafa, and he told me not to recite qunut with them. Is this permissible, or is following the imam obligatory?
The Shaykh : Yes, following the imam is obligatory. However, one should advise the imam not to recite qunut. He may be stubborn and not listen to this advice. In that case, the one who gave the advice should recite qunut with him.
The questioner : He must recite qunut.
The Shaykh : I mean, the one who advised the imam not to recite qunut must recite qunut with him. This way, he combines two things:Sahih Muslim 49a He changed it with his tongue, may Allah reward him with good. He said to him, "It is not from the Sunnah to recite qunut every day, every morning," and so on. The man did not respond for one reason or another. The second thing is: Sahih al-Bukhari 722, He is doing it this way, and you are doing it this way. This is a difference.
The questioner : This is a difference.
The Shaykh: It is not appropriate.
The questioner : I am not doing it this way, but deep down in my heart, I am not at ease. There is no peace in this action.
The Shaykh : The correct thing is that you must follow him.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Follow the imam, meaning.
The ShaykhSahih al-Bukhari 722 If the imam does more than this action, you follow him. For example, if he forgets the first tashahhud and then stands up. The first tashahhud is obligatory; it is necessary.
The questioner : It is a Sunnah; it is necessary.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory; it is necessary. If he stands up, it obligates him to perform sujud al-sahw. You do not say, "The imam made a mistake, so I am not following him." You are certain that the imam made a mistake. You do not say in your heart, "The imam made a mistake, what am I doing... his mistake is that I will perform the obligatory act or the Sunnah, as you think, unlike others. No, rather, you must follow him. And more than that, and more than that. The imam prayed the four-rak'ah obligatory prayer. Instead of sitting for the second and final tashahhud, he stood up for the fifth. You or someone else, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, did not notice for one reason or another, and he continued standing.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is upon you to follow him. If you did this intentionally and deliberately, your prayer is invalid. If he did it intentionally and deliberately.
The questioner : The prayer is invalid.
The Shaykh : It is invalid because he added a rak'ah. But the imam, or a Muslim, it is not conceivable that he would do this except by mistake. So.
The questioner : We follow him.
The Shaykh : If the imam makes a mistake, you should follow him. So, is this last mistake more important, or is it the qunut?
The questioner : No, this is more important.
The Shaykh : This is more important.
The questioner: Of course.
The Shaykh : Okay, based on that, compare the first hadith:Sahih al-Bukhari 722, in the wording: Sunan Ibn Majah 1238Sahih (Darussalam).
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
The questioner : This is a phenomenon in this country, meaning the constant qunut in the Fajr prayer. I asked Shaykh Mustafa, and he told me not to recite qunut with them. Is this permissible, or is following the imam obligatory?
The Shaykh : Yes, following the imam is obligatory. However, one should advise the imam not to recite qunut. He may be stubborn and not listen to this advice. In that case, the one who gave the advice should recite qunut with him.
The questioner : He must recite qunut.
The Shaykh : I mean, the one who advised the imam not to recite qunut must recite qunut with him. This way, he combines two things:
He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue
مَن رأى منكم منكرًا فليغيِّره بيده ، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانهThe Imam is (appointed) to be followed. So do not differ from him
إنما جُعِلَ الإمام لِيُؤتَمَّ به فلا تختلفوا عليهDo not differ from him.
لا تختلفوا عليهThe questioner : This is a difference.
The Shaykh: It is not appropriate.
The questioner : I am not doing it this way, but deep down in my heart, I am not at ease. There is no peace in this action.
The Shaykh : The correct thing is that you must follow him.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Follow the imam, meaning.
The Shaykh
The Imam is (appointed) to be followed. So do not differ from him
إنما جُعِلَ الإمام لِيُؤتَمَّ به ؛ فلا تختلفوا عليهThe questioner : It is a Sunnah; it is necessary.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory; it is necessary. If he stands up, it obligates him to perform sujud al-sahw. You do not say, "The imam made a mistake, so I am not following him." You are certain that the imam made a mistake. You do not say in your heart, "The imam made a mistake, what am I doing... his mistake is that I will perform the obligatory act or the Sunnah, as you think, unlike others. No, rather, you must follow him. And more than that, and more than that. The imam prayed the four-rak'ah obligatory prayer. Instead of sitting for the second and final tashahhud, he stood up for the fifth. You or someone else, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, did not notice for one reason or another, and he continued standing.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is upon you to follow him. If you did this intentionally and deliberately, your prayer is invalid. If he did it intentionally and deliberately.
The questioner : The prayer is invalid.
The Shaykh : It is invalid because he added a rak'ah. But the imam, or a Muslim, it is not conceivable that he would do this except by mistake. So.
The questioner : We follow him.
The Shaykh : If the imam makes a mistake, you should follow him. So, is this last mistake more important, or is it the qunut?
The questioner : No, this is more important.
The Shaykh : This is more important.
The questioner: Of course.
The Shaykh : Okay, based on that, compare the first hadith:
The Imam is (appointed) to be followed. So do not differ from him
إنما جُعِلَ الإمام لِيُؤتَمَّ به ؛ فلا تختلفوا عليهThe 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 جُعِلَ الإمام لِيُؤتَمَّ به ؛ فإذا كبَّرَ فكبِّروا ، وإذا ركع فاركعوا ، وإذا قال : سمع الله لِمَن حَمِدَه ؛ فقولوا : ربَّنا ولك الحمد ، وإذا صلى قائمًا فصلوا قيامًا ، وإذا صلى جالسًا فصلوا جلوسًا أجمعين
Source
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