The imam who sits for a break: does the ma'mum follow him?
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The questioner : If the imam sits for a break, does the ma'mum...
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : If the imam sits for a break, does the ma'mum follow him?
The Shaykh : Yes, if the imam considers the break sitting, the ma'mum should sit, because this is part of complete following. If he does not consider it, the ma'mum should stand, because this is part of complete following. However, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that it is recommended (mustahabb) for the ma'mum not to sit, and he did not say it is obligatory (wajib). Perhaps...
The questioner : ...not to sit...
The Shaykh : ...that the ma'mum should not sit if the imam does not consider the sitting; he should not sit. Perhaps the difference between this and the imam standing up from the first tashahhud, where the ma'mum is obligated to stand and not sit, is that the sitting for the first tashahhud is long, and the disagreement is clearly apparent with the imam, unlike what? The break sitting, where the disagreement is slight. But even so, we say: follow your imam. If he sits, sit, even if you do not consider it. If he does not sit, do not sit, even if you consider it. Following and agreeing, and the appearance of the worshippers in one appearance, this is an important matter. Did you not see that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) objected to Uthman for completing the prayer in Mina, and yet they prayed behind him? Among the things that Abdullah ibn Mas'ud objected to, when he heard that Uthman was completing, he said: "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return. How can he complete?" And he was praying with him, completing the prayer. It was said to him: "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, how is it?" He said: "Disagreement is evil" Look at the view of the Salaf; disagreement and discord among the community is evil. Even Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) considered qunut in the Fajr prayer a religious innovation (bid'ah), and he said: "If one follows an imam who does qunut in Fajr, he should follow him and say 'Ameen' to his supplication", Glory be to Allah! And he considered it a religious innovation, all of this in order to avoid disagreement. Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : O Allah... May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : If the imam sits for a break, does the ma'mum follow him?
The Shaykh : Yes, if the imam considers the break sitting, the ma'mum should sit, because this is part of complete following. If he does not consider it, the ma'mum should stand, because this is part of complete following. However, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that it is recommended (mustahabb) for the ma'mum not to sit, and he did not say it is obligatory (wajib). Perhaps...
The questioner : ...not to sit...
The Shaykh : ...that the ma'mum should not sit if the imam does not consider the sitting; he should not sit. Perhaps the difference between this and the imam standing up from the first tashahhud, where the ma'mum is obligated to stand and not sit, is that the sitting for the first tashahhud is long, and the disagreement is clearly apparent with the imam, unlike what? The break sitting, where the disagreement is slight. But even so, we say: follow your imam. If he sits, sit, even if you do not consider it. If he does not sit, do not sit, even if you consider it. Following and agreeing, and the appearance of the worshippers in one appearance, this is an important matter. Did you not see that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) objected to Uthman for completing the prayer in Mina, and yet they prayed behind him? Among the things that Abdullah ibn Mas'ud objected to, when he heard that Uthman was completing, he said: "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return. How can he complete?" And he was praying with him, completing the prayer. It was said to him: "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, how is it?" He said: "Disagreement is evil" Look at the view of the Salaf; disagreement and discord among the community is evil. Even Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) considered qunut in the Fajr prayer a religious innovation (bid'ah), and he said: "If one follows an imam who does qunut in Fajr, he should follow him and say 'Ameen' to his supplication", Glory be to Allah! And he considered it a religious innovation, all of this in order to avoid disagreement. Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : O Allah... May Allah reward you.