Is it permissible to lag behind the imam in order to perform some of the recommended practices, such as the resting sitting and the sitting on the toes, in prayer?
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The questioner : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is the ruling on performing some of the recommended practices and slightly lagging behind the imam, such as the resting sitting and the sitting on the toes in prayer? Does this require the follower to follow the imam, or to perform them? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, the original principle is to match the imam in actions. By matching, I mean following him by performing the action immediately after him; this is the recommended practice. As for what does not require lagging behind the imam, such as sitting on the toes between the two prostrations while the imam is sitting cross-legged, or sitting in the tawruk position in the final tashahhud while the imam is sitting cross-legged, this is not considered a deviation. Similarly, raising one's hands when bowing and when rising from bowing while the imam does not do so is not considered a deviation, because it does not involve lagging behind. However, the resting sitting does involve lagging behind. But because it is a slight lag, we do not say that it is forbidden. Rather, we say that it is better that you do not sit if the imam does not sit, as the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in *Al-Fatawa*. He said: "It is better for the follower, if he considers the resting sitting a recommended practice and the imam does not consider it so, to follow his imam, because following the imam is better". And the reverse is the same: if the imam considers the sitting a recommended practice and you do not, then if he sits, you should sit, because following is more complete. This is the rule. So, whatever causes the follower to lag behind the imam, he should not do it. And whatever does not cause that, but is merely a difference in the manner of the action, there is no harm in it, and it is not considered a deviation.
May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is the ruling on performing some of the recommended practices and slightly lagging behind the imam, such as the resting sitting and the sitting on the toes in prayer? Does this require the follower to follow the imam, or to perform them? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, the original principle is to match the imam in actions. By matching, I mean following him by performing the action immediately after him; this is the recommended practice. As for what does not require lagging behind the imam, such as sitting on the toes between the two prostrations while the imam is sitting cross-legged, or sitting in the tawruk position in the final tashahhud while the imam is sitting cross-legged, this is not considered a deviation. Similarly, raising one's hands when bowing and when rising from bowing while the imam does not do so is not considered a deviation, because it does not involve lagging behind. However, the resting sitting does involve lagging behind. But because it is a slight lag, we do not say that it is forbidden. Rather, we say that it is better that you do not sit if the imam does not sit, as the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in *Al-Fatawa*. He said: "It is better for the follower, if he considers the resting sitting a recommended practice and the imam does not consider it so, to follow his imam, because following the imam is better". And the reverse is the same: if the imam considers the sitting a recommended practice and you do not, then if he sits, you should sit, because following is more complete. This is the rule. So, whatever causes the follower to lag behind the imam, he should not do it. And whatever does not cause that, but is merely a difference in the manner of the action, there is no harm in it, and it is not considered a deviation.