Is it preferable to advance the imam or delay the ma'mum?
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The questioner : Is it preferable to advance the imam or delay the ma'mum?
The Shaykh : And what do you say? I mean, in the prayer of two people, a third person comes. Is it preferable? Sometimes it is not possible; sometimes it is not possible to delay the ma'mum, and sometimes it is not possible to advance the imam. If the imam and the ma'mum are against a wall behind their backs, can we delay the ma'mum? It is not possible. And if the wall in front of them is close, can we advance the imam? Yes, it is not possible. This is clear if it is not possible; it is clear. But if it is possible in a wide place, in the open, or in the middle of the mosque, then advancing the imam is preferable. Advancing the imam is preferable, unless you know that the imam is an angry, foolish man. In that case, we might say that even if he is disturbed, you should delay the ma'mum. What... except in the case of a sutrah. I mean, if a black dog passes in front of the imam, his prayer and the people's prayer are invalidated. The reason for that is that the ma'mum and the imam in this situation have one sutrah.
The Shaykh : And what do you say? I mean, in the prayer of two people, a third person comes. Is it preferable? Sometimes it is not possible; sometimes it is not possible to delay the ma'mum, and sometimes it is not possible to advance the imam. If the imam and the ma'mum are against a wall behind their backs, can we delay the ma'mum? It is not possible. And if the wall in front of them is close, can we advance the imam? Yes, it is not possible. This is clear if it is not possible; it is clear. But if it is possible in a wide place, in the open, or in the middle of the mosque, then advancing the imam is preferable. Advancing the imam is preferable, unless you know that the imam is an angry, foolish man. In that case, we might say that even if he is disturbed, you should delay the ma'mum. What... except in the case of a sutrah. I mean, if a black dog passes in front of the imam, his prayer and the people's prayer are invalidated. The reason for that is that the ma'mum and the imam in this situation have one sutrah.