The Shaykh’s advice to those who race the imam in saying “Ameen”

The Shaykh : This is an error that occurs in most mosques, and I hope that Allah will save this mosque from such an error, just as He has saved it from many errors that have become widespread in all the mosques.
The source of this error is the worshippers themselves, not some of the employees. What is this error? It is racing the imam with “Ameen.” This is a widespread and pervasive error. In every land of Islam where we have stayed, we find this error to be accepted, even though the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said with his clear Arabic tongue: ; the hadith is clear, but its application contradicts this clarity: ; I am the imam and I recite aloud. I finish reciting al-Fatihah by saying: . It is not after I have taken a breath that I continue al-Fatihah with “Ameen.” You will find that most of the worshippers have preceded the imam with “Ameen,” and the imam’s “Ameen” comes after the worshippers’ “Ameen,” as if the matter is a reversal of the noble Prophet’s text. He says: , and you, some of you or most of you—and I do not say all of you—precede the imam with “Ameen.”
You have surely noticed, and I am sure you agree with me, that there were two voices: one voice preceding the imam with “Ameen,” and another voice slightly delaying behind the imam with “Ameen.” This is the Sunnah; indeed, this is obligatory, because the Messenger (peace be upon him) said, as you heard: . This expression has two meanings according to the scholars:
The first is: if the follower adheres to it, he is farthest from racing the imam. The first meaning is: , meaning if he finishes saying “Ameen,” then you begin with “Ameen.”
The second meaning is: if he begins with “Ameen,” then you begin with “Ameen.” This second meaning is the one that is stronger in our view.
But the truth is that often the soul inclines to adopting the other opinion, because directing people today to the correct practice all at once is difficult. Therefore, we say: Listen to the imam, and when he has finished his “Ameen,” you say “Ameen.” When they have practiced this stage, then we tell them: If he begins with “Ameen,” you say “Ameen.”
And for a clear wisdom, the Sunnah is that the imam should say “Ameen” aloud. Why?
First: so that they do not race the imam. Second: so that they may attain this virtue, which, if a Muslim lived the life of Noah (peace be upon him) in worshipping Allah for all those years, the reward would still be small. It is the forgiveness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Nevertheless, our Lord has favored His believing servants by making for them an easy, accessible means by which, if they apply it as they were commanded, they deserve the forgiveness of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). That is His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . Why? .
The angels, without doubt, are the frequent visitors of the mosques, and there is in the Sunnah what indicates that they are two groups: a group that descends and a group that ascends, so the mosques are never devoid of angels. The nature of the angels, as you know from the saying of Allah the Exalted: , is that they do not err as we humans do. So what do they do when they pray with the imam? Do they race him with “Ameen”? No, we do this. But they, as they know the Shari'ah of Allah, do not precede the imam with “Ameen.” Thus, when the follower, by his “Ameen,” is in agreement with the angels who do not disobey Allah in anything, including saying “Ameen” behind the imam, that person who says “Ameen” among the humans deserves, according to what the Messenger stated in the hadith, that Allah forgive him. What a generous Lord our Allah is toward His believing servants, forgiving their sins! Just guard yourself: when you are attentive to the imam’s recitation of the Qur'an, and you have learned this lesson and this Prophetic hadith, do not precede the imam with “Ameen.” And if you follow him correctly, you will leave your prayer as on the day your mother gave birth to you.
So this is a great virtue, and I hope you will strive to attain it and not precede the imam with it, because instead of gaining this virtue—the forgiveness of Allah—you fall into disobedience, because racing the imam is not permissible. If the imam says takbir, you say takbir; if he says “Ameen,” you say “Ameen.” If you precede the imam in takbir, you have disobeyed the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and thereby you deserve the punishment of Allah.
The one who precedes the imam with “Ameen” loses twice: the first time he loses the forgiveness of Allah, and the second time he deserves the punishment of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And this is a reminder, and the reminder benefits the believers. Rise to your Sunnah, then to your homes...

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