He says in his question: I was praying behind an imam, and after I had completed the first rak'ah with him, the second rak'ah came, and when it was time to bow, he hurried, and when I came to bow, he had already risen, and when it was time to bow, he prostrated.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : This is a message we received from one of the gentlemen who listen to the program "Light on the Path." Ibrahim Hussein Muhammad Halayb says in his question: I was praying behind an imam, and after I had completed the first rak'ah with him, the second rak'ah came, and when it was time to bow, he hurried, and when I came to bow, he had already risen, and when it was time to bow, he prostrated. What is the ruling on this prayer of mine? May Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : If the imam hurries to the extent that the ma'mum cannot perform the obligatory acts, such as tranquility or others.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then it is obligatory for the ma'mum at that time to separate from him and pray alone, because he is between two things: either he leaves the obligation of following, or he leaves the obligation of the prayer, and he cannot combine them. Also, the imam in this state is not fit to be an imam, because it is obligatory for the imam to consider the condition of the ma'mums, and it is forbidden for him to hurry to a speed that prevents them from doing what is obligatory. So we say: if you enter behind an imam and find that he is hurrying to a degree that you cannot perform the obligatory acts, it is obligatory for you to separate and complete your prayer alone. Yes.
The questioner : But does he leave the congregation in this case?
The Shaykh : Yes, because he cannot perform the prayer in the obligatory manner here.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, he is between two things: either he follows and leaves the obligatory act, so he prays without tranquility and without glorification...
The questioner : The obligatory act referred to is tranquility.
The Shaykh : Tranquility, and also the obligatory acts of bowing, prostrating, and glorification.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Or he does not follow the imam, and in that case, the meaning of the congregation is lost, because he must delay; if he bows, he must be tranquil, and the imam is rising and prostrating before he stands up from his bowing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : But does not following the imam invalidate the prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is known, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that our actions follow the actions of the imam, and if that is not possible for us, where is the following?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And if it is permissible for the ma'mum to separate due to the imam's lengthening or due to an excuse that arises for him, yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What about shortening that prevents him from performing the obligatory acts?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : If the imam hurries to the extent that the ma'mum cannot perform the obligatory acts, such as tranquility or others.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then it is obligatory for the ma'mum at that time to separate from him and pray alone, because he is between two things: either he leaves the obligation of following, or he leaves the obligation of the prayer, and he cannot combine them. Also, the imam in this state is not fit to be an imam, because it is obligatory for the imam to consider the condition of the ma'mums, and it is forbidden for him to hurry to a speed that prevents them from doing what is obligatory. So we say: if you enter behind an imam and find that he is hurrying to a degree that you cannot perform the obligatory acts, it is obligatory for you to separate and complete your prayer alone. Yes.
The questioner : But does he leave the congregation in this case?
The Shaykh : Yes, because he cannot perform the prayer in the obligatory manner here.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, he is between two things: either he follows and leaves the obligatory act, so he prays without tranquility and without glorification...
The questioner : The obligatory act referred to is tranquility.
The Shaykh : Tranquility, and also the obligatory acts of bowing, prostrating, and glorification.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Or he does not follow the imam, and in that case, the meaning of the congregation is lost, because he must delay; if he bows, he must be tranquil, and the imam is rising and prostrating before he stands up from his bowing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : But does not following the imam invalidate the prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is known, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When he says takbir, say takbir.
إذا كبر فكبرواWhen he bows, bow.
إذا ركع فاركعواThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that our actions follow the actions of the imam, and if that is not possible for us, where is the following?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And if it is permissible for the ma'mum to separate due to the imam's lengthening or due to an excuse that arises for him, yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What about shortening that prevents him from performing the obligatory acts?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.