If the imam limits himself to the minimum of perfection, is it permissible for a person to lag behind?
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The questioner : If the imam limits himself to the minimum of perfection, is it permissible for a person to lag behind?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct. Not the minimum of perfection, I mean. If he limits himself to only the obligatory, that is not the minimum of perfection. The minimum of perfection is what is not obligatory. For example, he might recite tasbih three times, but the obligatory is only once. And in cases like this, it is sometimes not possible to follow along. Yes, it is valid.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : I mean, his intention is that he is considering them, or what?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. If it is difficult for them, they are excused for leaving the congregation.[Al-Baqarah 2:286] The problem that has no solution: No, we do not say to them, "O people, you are excused as long as you are praying with us at the beginning, so you have the full reward." Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct. Not the minimum of perfection, I mean. If he limits himself to only the obligatory, that is not the minimum of perfection. The minimum of perfection is what is not obligatory. For example, he might recite tasbih three times, but the obligatory is only once. And in cases like this, it is sometimes not possible to follow along. Yes, it is valid.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : I mean, his intention is that he is considering them, or what?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. If it is difficult for them, they are excused for leaving the congregation.