CHAPTER: THE MUQTADI (FOLLOWER) SHOULD STRICTLY FOLLOW THE IMAM IN PRAYER
No. 817
Anas b. Malik reported: The Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) fell down from a horse and his right side was grazed. We went to him to inquire after his health when the time of prayer came. He led us in prayer in a sitting posture and we said prayer behind him sitting, and when he finished the prayer hesaid: The Imam is appointed only to be followed; so when he recites takbir, you should also recite that; when he prostrates, you should also prostrate; when he rises up, you should also rise up, and when he said" God listens to him who praises Him," you should say:" Our Lord, to Thee be the praise," and when he prays sitting, all of you should pray sitting.
Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) fell down from a horse and he was grazed and he led the prayer for us sitting, and the rest of the hadith is the same.
Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) fell down from a horse and his right side was grazed, and the rest of the hadith is the same with the addition of these words:" When he (the Imam) says prayer standing, you should also do so."
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) rode a horse and fell down from it and his right side was grazed, and the rest of the hadith is the same, and (these words) are found in it:" When he (the Imam) says prayer in an erect posture, you should also say it in an erect posture."
Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) fell down from his horse and his right side was grazed, and the rest of the hadith is the same. In this hadith there are no additions (of words) as transmitted by Yunus and Malik.
'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) fell ill and some of his Companions came to inquire after his health. The Messenger of Allaah (may peace he upon him) said prayer sitting, while (his Companions) said it (behind him) standing. He (the Prophet) directed them by his gesture to sit down, and they sat down (in prayer). After finishing the (prayer) lie (the Prophet) said: The Imam is appointed so that be should be followed, so bow down when lie bows down, and rise rip when he rises up and say (prayer) sitting when he (the Imam) says (it) sitting.
Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) was ill and we said prayer behind him and he was sitting. And Abu Bakr was making audible to the people his takbir. As he paid his attention towards us he saw us standing and (directed us to sit down) with a gesture. So we sat down and said our prayer with his prayer in a sitting posture. After uttering salutation he said: You were at this time about to do an act like that of the Persians and the Romans. They stand before their kings while they sit, so don't do that; follow your Imams. If they say prayer standing, you should also do so, and if they say prayer sitting, you should also say prayer sitting.
Jabir said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) led the prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) recited the takbir, Abu Bakr also recited (it) in order to make it audible to us. And the rest of the hadith is like one transmitted by Laith.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: The Imam is appointed, so that he should be followed, so don't be at variance with him. Recite takbir when he recites it; bow down when he bows down and when he says:" Allaah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allaah, our Lord, to Thee be the Praise." And when he (the Imam) prostrates, you should also prostrate, and when he says prayer sitting, you should all observe prayer sitting.
A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hammam b. Munabbih from the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) on the authority of Abu Huraira.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) while teaching us (the principles of faith), said: Do not try to go ahead of the Imam, recite takbir when he recites it. and when he says:" Nor of those who err," you should say Amin, bow down when lie bows down, and when he says:" Allaah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allaah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise".
Abu Huraira reported from the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) (a hadith) like it, except the words:" Nor of those who err, say Amin" and added:" And don't rise up ahead of him."
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Verily the Imam is a shield, say prayer sitting when he says prayer sitting. And when he says:" Allaah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allaah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise." and when the utterance of the people of the earth synchronises with that of the beings of heaven (angels), all the previous sins would be pardoned.
Abu Huraira reported Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying: The Imamis appointed to be followed. So recite takbir when he recites it, and bow down when he bows down and when he utters:" Allaah listens to him who praises Him," say" O Allaah, our Lordfor Thee be the praise." And when he prays, standing, you should pray standing. And when he prays sitting, all of you should pray sitting.