The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 1233- When an imam is leading a congregation for the daily prayers, one can follow him for any of the daily prayers. For example, if the imam is offering ẓuhr prayer, and one has already offered his ẓuhr prayer, he can offer his ‘aṣr prayer following the imam. However, if the imam is repeating his prayer in order for precaution, he (the follower) cannot offer his prayer with him, unless both of the prayers are similar in terms of precaution.

Issue No. 1234- If the imam is offering qaḍā prayer, it is permissible to follow him. However, if he is offering precautionary qaḍā prayer, it is not permissible to follow him as an obligatory precaution.

Issue No. 1235- One cannot follow an imam if he does not know whether the imam is performing an obligatory prayer or recommended prayer.

Issue No. 1269- Ifa person was previously known to be just (‘ādil), however one later doubts whether he is still just or not, he should consider him as just unless proven otherwise.

Issue No. 1245- The followers should not stand ahead of the imam. Therefore, if a follower, at the start of the congregation or during it, stands ahead of the imam, his prayer in congregation would be void. The obligatory precaution also, is that he should not stand in an equal line with the imam. Rather, he should stand at least a little behind the imam. This condition should be observed in all parts of the prayer including rukū‘ and sajdah.

Issue No. 1241- In the congregational prayer, there is no problem if the place where followers stand is higher than where the imam stands. However, in case the imam stands in the main part of the mosque [for instance] and some of the followers are located on the balcony or on the roof in a manner that it would not be called a congregational prayer; in this case, the prayer would not be valid. The same applies when the imam stands on the ground floor and the followers stand on the other floors, which are far from the congregation.

Issue No. 1249- If because of a valid excuse the follower turns his intention into individual prayer after the imam has recited sūrah al-fātiḥa and the sūrah, it will not be necessary for him to recite them. However, if he makes the intention of individual prayer before the imam has completed sūrah al-fātiḥa and the sūrah, he should recite the part that the imam has not recited.

Issue No. 1250- If because of a valid excuse the follower turns his intention into individual prayer during the congregational prayer, he cannot revert back to congregational prayer. Also, if he becomes doubtful whether he should change his intention to individual prayer or not, and eventually decides to continue the prayer with the congregation, the rulings of congregational prayer [as an obligatory precaution] do not apply to his prayer. However, if he doubts whether or not he had made the intention of individual prayer, he should consider that he had not made the intention.

Issue No. 1252- One should reach the rukū‘ of the imam in other rak‘ats of the prayer as well as the first rak‘at, otherwise, the rulings of congregational prayer [as an obligatory precaution] do not apply to one's prayer.

Issue No. 1253- If one joins the congregation when the imam is in rukū‘, but before making it to rukū‘, the imam raises his head from rukū‘, that person should make the intention of individual prayer, and his prayer will be in order and it will not be necessary to repeat the prayer.

Issue No. 1257- If a person joins the imam when he is in the second rak‘at, he should sit after the two sajdahs in his second rak‘at, which will be the third of the imam, and recite the obligatory parts of tashahhud, and should then stand up and join the imam. And if he does not have time to recite the tasbīḥāt arbaʿah three times, he should recite them once and join the imam in rukū‘.

Issue No. 1260- If a person is sure that if he recites the sūrah, he will be able to join the imam in his rukū‘, he should, as an obligatory precaution, recite the sūrah. In case however, he recites the sūrah, but he does not reach the imam in his rukū‘, his congregational prayer is in order.