If the imam prays sitting due to an excuse and indicates his bowing, should the ma'mum stand and bow, and likewise for prostration?
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The questioner : If the imam is sitting and unable to stand, and he indicates his bowing, do we tell the ma'mum to stand and bow?
The Shaykh : No, no, because their obligation now is to sit. Sitting does not involve bowing. Bowing here is contingent upon standing. But consider the example we mentioned: the imam prays standing and they pray standing, but he has an ailment in his back and cannot bow, so he indicates it while standing. We say: do not indicate it, but bow, because you are able to do so. Yes?
The questioner : ... Do we say they indicate it ...
The Shaykh : It appears that they prostrate, because prostration is close to sitting, meaning there is no apparent contradiction with the imam. Also, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) attributed the standing of the ma'mum while the imam is sitting to another cause, and said: He likened these people who pray standing while the imam is sitting to the non-Arabs who stand on or rise above the heads of their kings. Yes.
The Shaykh : No, no, because their obligation now is to sit. Sitting does not involve bowing. Bowing here is contingent upon standing. But consider the example we mentioned: the imam prays standing and they pray standing, but he has an ailment in his back and cannot bow, so he indicates it while standing. We say: do not indicate it, but bow, because you are able to do so. Yes?
The questioner : ... Do we say they indicate it ...
The Shaykh : It appears that they prostrate, because prostration is close to sitting, meaning there is no apparent contradiction with the imam. Also, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) attributed the standing of the ma'mum while the imam is sitting to another cause, and said: