What is the ruling on overtaking or matching the imam in prayer?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on overtaking or matching the imam in prayer?
The Shaykh : Overtaking the imam is forbidden because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it and warned against it, saying:Sahih Muslim 427a If a person does it deliberately, knowing that it is forbidden, his prayer is invalid. For example, if he bows before the imam while knowing that bowing before the imam is forbidden, his prayer is invalid, and he must restart it from the beginning.
As for matching the imam, if that happens in the takbir of ihram, the prayer is not established, and he must repeat it from the beginning. For example, if he says the takbir of ihram before the imam has finished his takbir of ihram, the prayer is not established.
As for anything other than the takbir of ihram, matching the imam is contrary to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, where he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 378 and he said: .
However, in the ameen, the ma'mum matches his imam, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 936Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning, when he reaches the place of the ameen, say ameen. The evidence that this is the meaning is what is established in "Sahih Muslim" from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: إذا قال الإمام: ولا الضالين فقولوا: ءامين When the imam says: "And not the astray," say: "Ameen." This indicates that the meaning of his saying: Sunan Abi Dawud 936Sahih (Al-Albani) is when he reaches the place of the ameen, which is the end of al-Fatihah, or when he begins the ameen, you begin it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Overtaking the imam is forbidden because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it and warned against it, saying:
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 يحوّل الله رأسه رأس حمار أو يجعل صورته صورة حمارAs for matching the imam, if that happens in the takbir of ihram, the prayer is not established, and he must repeat it from the beginning. For example, if he says the takbir of ihram before the imam has finished his takbir of ihram, the prayer is not established.
As for anything other than the takbir of ihram, matching the imam is contrary to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, where he said:
and when he bows, bow and when he prostrates, prostrate
إذا ركع فاركعوا، وإذا سجد فاسجدواDo not bow until he bows, and do not prostrate until he prostrates.
لا تركعوا حتى يركع، ولا تسجدوا حتى يسجدHowever, in the ameen, the ma'mum matches his imam, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When the Imam says Amin, say Amin
إذا أمّن الإمام فأمّنواWhen the Imam says Amin, say Amin
إذا أمّن الإمام فأمّنواThe questioner : May Allah bless you.