Fatwa ID: 08129

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Question:

Salams

Hope you well

Just wanted to confirm a ruling.

We in Umrah and someone told my mum that when praying behind imam, they should follow the mukabbir i.e. go in ruku, sajdah etc. on the mukabbir’s takbeer and not the imam’s takbeer.

They should be following the imam’s takbir. Is that right?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa alaikumus salaam

The Imam is a leader and a guide in the congregational prayer ensuring that the salah is done properly with the right postures in sequence. The Imam is appointed so that he be followed.

The Muqtadi is one following the Imam. Before starting the salah, one will make intention following the Imam. As soon as the Imam starts the salah, the Muqtadi will follow him.

The Takbir of the Imam should be loud for the Muqtadi to know that the salah has started and it also indicates moving from one posture to another posture.

However, in large gatherings or if the voice of the Imam is weak, then one of the Muqtadis will repeat the takbir out loud. If there is no need, the repetition will be abandoned.

As the hadith in Sahih Muslim mentions:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was ill and we said prayer behind him and he was sitting. And Abu Bakr was making audible to the people his takbir.

Therefore, when a person is in the Haram joining the congregational salah, one will follow the takbir of the Imam as it can be heard clearly from the speakers.

Hope this answers the question.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ اشْتَكَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَلَّيْنَا وَرَاءَهُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ تَكْبِيرَهُ
Sahih Muslim hadith 413

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَلاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ‏.‏ فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ ‏.‏ وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِذَا صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا أَجْمَعُونَ ‏”
Sahih Muslim hadith 414

“وشروط صحة الاقتداء أربعة عشر شيئا” تقريبًا: “نية المقتدي المتابعة مقارنة لتحريمته” إما مقارنة حقيقية أو حكمية كما تقدم فينوي الصلاة والمتابعة أيضا
مراقي الفلاح ص١١٠

مَطْلَبٌ فِي التَّبْلِيغِ خَلْفَ الْإِمَامِ
ثُمَّ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْإِمَامَ إذَا كَبَّرَ لِلِافْتِتَاحِ فَلَا بُدَّ لِصِحَّةِ صَلَاتِهِ مِنْ قَصْدِهِ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ الْإِحْرَامَ، وَإِلَّا فَلَا صَلَاةَ لَهُ … وَفِي حَاشِيَةِ أَبِي السُّعُودِ: وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ التَّبْلِيغَ عِنْدَ عَدَمِ الْحَاجَةِ … وَقَالَ الْحَمَوِيُّ: وَأَظُنُّ أَنَّ هَذَا النَّقْلَ مَكْذُوبٌ عَلَى الطَّحَاوِيِّ فَإِنَّهُ مُخَالِفٌ لِلْقَوَاعِدِ اهـ
رد المحتار ج١ ص٤٧٥