Rulings on the states of people with their imam: following, preceding, matching, and lagging.
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The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Bulugh al-Maram 2:310 This is the state of following.
As for preceding, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 427a, and this is a threat that necessitates the prohibition of this act.
As for matching and lagging, they are contrary to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):, for his saying: necessitates that one not bow until he bows, and his saying: necessitates that one not lag behind the imam.
Many of the worshippers, unfortunately, we see them now preceding their imam—may Allah reward you, let us wait until we need to—preceding their imam by bowing before him and prostrating before him. These people do not know that this act is a cause for the invalidation of the prayer, for the stronger position is that preceding the imam, even to the extent of a pillar, invalidates the prayer, because it is falling into what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited. And every prohibited act in worship, if a person does it, invalidates it.
Do you see among the worshippers with the imam now anyone who precedes him?
The students: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, our position regarding that is to advise them and explain to them that it is forbidden and that it is dangerous for the invalidation of their prayer.
The Imam has been appointed to be followed (in the congregational prayers). So, when he utters the Takbir, utter the Takbir too, and do not utter the Takbir until he utters it. When he bows, you should bow, and do not bow until he bows. When he says, "Allah listens to him who praises him," say, "O Allah, our Rabb, to you is the praise." When he prostrates, you prostrate; and do not prostrate until he prostrates. If he prays standing, pray standing, and if he prays sitting, all of you pray sitting.
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم به، فلا تختلفوا عليه، إذا كبر فكبروا، ولاتكبروا حتى يكبر، وإذا ركع فاركعوا، ولاتركعوا حتى يركع، وإذا قال سمع الله لمن حمده فقولوا اللهم ربنا لك الحمد، وإذا سجد فاسجدوا ولاتسجدوا حتى يسجد، وإذا صلى قائما فصلوا قياما، وإذا صلى قاعدا فصلوا قعوداAs for preceding, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Does the man who lifts his head ahead of the Imam (from prostration) not fear that Allah may change his head into the head of an ass
أما يخشى الذي يرفع رأسه قبل الإمام أن يحول الله رأسه رأس حمار، أو يجعل صورته صورة حمارAs for matching and lagging, they are contrary to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
When he bows, bow.
إذا ركع فاركعواWhen he bows
إذا ركعBow
فاركعواMany of the worshippers, unfortunately, we see them now preceding their imam—may Allah reward you, let us wait until we need to—preceding their imam by bowing before him and prostrating before him. These people do not know that this act is a cause for the invalidation of the prayer, for the stronger position is that preceding the imam, even to the extent of a pillar, invalidates the prayer, because it is falling into what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited. And every prohibited act in worship, if a person does it, invalidates it.
Do you see among the worshippers with the imam now anyone who precedes him?
The students: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, our position regarding that is to advise them and explain to them that it is forbidden and that it is dangerous for the invalidation of their prayer.