The rules between the imam and the follower
How rows are formed and filled, what happens when imam and followers disagree on the count of units (rak'ahs), prompting the imam (luqma), and where a woman may stand.
When people pray together, there are rules about how they stand, how they act if something goes wrong, and how the imam and followers deal with each other.
How people line up
- If there's only one follower (a man or a boy), they stand right next to the imam, not behind.
- If a second person joins, the first person quietly steps back so both can stand in a row behind the imam.
- The rows go in this order: men first, then boys, then women at the very back.
- Rows should be straight, with shoulders lined up, nobody standing too far forward or back.
- If there's still room in the front row, it's not great manners to stand in the row behind it instead.
Followers must copy the imam's actions without delay, and moving ahead of him, bowing or standing up before he does, is not allowed, except when the imam has clearly made a mistake, like standing up for an extra rak'ah that isn't there.
123The imam should keep going smoothly with the recitation instead of pausing and waiting for someone to help him remember a word (called giving a luqma). Followers shouldn't jump in with a luqma the second the imam pauses, only if it's really needed. Jumping in too fast is disliked.
Where there is only one Muqtadi (male or a young boy), they should stand directly beside the Imam. If a second person joins, they should form a row behind the Imam rather than standing beside him; if the second person joins after the first is already standing beside the Imam, the first should move back slightly to let both fall into a row, and if the first does not move, the second may gently pull them back rather than the first moving unprompted.
The order and shape of the rows
- The men's rows come first.
- Then the rows of young boys.
- Then the rows of hermaphrodites, followed by the rows of women.
- Finally, the rows of young girls.
- The rows should be straight, with shoulders aligned, and no one standing noticeably ahead of or behind the rest.
Followers must follow the Imam in every action, such as Ruku and Sujood, without delay. Going ahead of the Imam, or rising before him, is makruh, except where the Imam himself has erred (for instance, standing for an extra, mistaken rak'ah), in which case the followers need not strictly follow him.
123It is makruh tahreemi for the Imam to prolong lengthy Surahs, or to delay unnecessarily in Ruku or Sujood; the Imam should account for the needs and weaknesses of the followers, and where necessary it is better to shorten the recitation to the minimum prescribed rather than to prolong it.
1234If the Imam has completed the recitation required of him, he should proceed to Ruku; otherwise he should move straight on to the next verse rather than pausing in silence and inviting the followers to offer a luqma (a prompted word). Followers, for their part, should not be quick to offer a luqma the instant the Imam pauses, and should only do so where there is a genuine need; offering it immediately is makruh.
Where there is a single muqtadī (male, or a discerning boy), he stands directly beside the imam rather than behind. On a second muqtadī joining, the two form a ṣaff behind the imam; where the second arrives after the first has already taken position beside the imam, the first draws back of his own accord to complete the row, or, failing that, may be gently drawn back by the newcomer rather than moving unprompted himself.
The order and configuration of the ṣufūf
- The rows of men stand foremost.
- Followed by the rows of pre-adolescent boys.
- Followed by the rows of khunthā (hermaphrodites), then the rows of women.
- Finally, the rows of young girls.
- The rows must be aligned (taswiyah), shoulders even, with no individual noticeably advanced or retarded relative to the rest.
The muqtadīn must follow the imam in every act, rukūʿ, sujūd and the rest, without delay; anticipating him, whether in bowing or in rising, is makrūh, save where the imam has himself erred (as by rising for a mistaken extra rakʿah), in which case strict following is not required of them.
123It is makrūh taḥrīmī for the imam to prolong lengthy sūrahs, or to linger unduly in rukūʿ or sujūd; he is to have regard for the capacity and weaknesses of those behind him, and where the need arises it is preferable to reduce the recitation to the minimum prescribed rather than to prolong it.
1234Where the imam has completed the recitation due from him, he proceeds directly to rukūʿ; otherwise he moves on to the next āyah rather than pausing in silence to invite a luqmah. The muqtadīn, for their part, should not be quick to supply a luqmah the instant the imam pauses, doing so only where a genuine need is apparent; an immediate offer is makrūh.
This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 819 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Rules Regarding Imam and Muqtadi (Follower)
- If there is only one Muqtadi (whether male or a young boy), they should stand directly beside the Imam. If there are multiple followers, they should form rows behind the Imam, according to gender and age.
- If a second person joins after the first Muqtadi has already stood next to the Imam, the first Muqtadi should move back slightly to allow the second person to stand in line behind the Imam. If the first Muqtadi does not move, the second person can gently pull the first one back, but the first Muqtadi should not immediately move.
- The rows should be arranged in the following order:
- First, the men's rows.
- Then, the rows of young boys.
- Afterward, the rows of hermaphrodites, followed by women's rows.
- Finally, the rows of young girls.
- The rows should be straight, with individuals standing close together, so that their shoulders are aligned with each other. No one should be standing too far ahead or behind the others.
- If space is available in the first row, standing in the second row is considered disliked (Makruh), but after the first row is full, it is fine to stand in the second.
- The followers (Muqtadi) must follow the Imam in all the actions of the prayer, such as bowing (Ruku) and prostrating (Sujood), without delay. Going ahead of the Imam or rising before the Imam in any action is considered Makruh (strongly discouraged), except in the case of an Imam making a mistake (e.g., performing extra movements), where the followers do not need to strictly follow.
- It is disliked (Makruh Tahreemi) for the Imam to prolong the recitation of lengthy Surahs or delay in bowing (Ruku) and prostration (Sujood) unnecessarily.The Imam should consider the needs and weaknesses of the followers (Muqtadi) and adjust the recitation accordingly. In case of necessity, it is even better to reduce the recitation to the minimum prescribed, rather than prolonging it.
- If there is a disagreement between the Imam and the followers (Muqtadi) about the number of Rak'ahs, for instance, the Imam believes there were four Rak'ahs while the Muqtadi believes there were three, then:
If the Imam is sure there were four Rak'ahs, the Imam's statement is considered valid, and the Muqtadi should trust the Imam’s count.
If the Imam has doubt, then the Muqtadi’s opinion is valid, and the prayer will need to be repeated (reperformed).
If only one Muqtadi believes that there were three Rak'ahs, while others, including the Imam, are unsure, it is safer to repeat the prayer.
- The Imam does not need to make an intention for leading the prayer (Imamat), but if a woman is following him, the Imam must make the intention specifically for her, or her prayer will not be valid.
A woman following the Imam should stand at the very back of the row. If she stands in line with a man or in front of him, it will invalidate the man’s prayer.
- If a Shafi'i Imam is leading the prayer, so when the Imam raises his hands during Ruku or after it, or during Qunoot in Fajr, Hanafi Muqtadis should remain silent, meaning they should not raise their hands or say the Qunoot.
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Note
- Giving or receiving a 'luqma' (a word or portion of a verse), provided the person giving or receiving it is not the imam himself. (If a follower/muqtadi gives the 'luqma' to the imam, it will not invalidate the prayer, whether the imam has completed the required recitation or not.)
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Note 1
The imam should, if he has completed the necessary recitation, proceed to bow (ruku). Otherwise, he should immediately start the next verse, without standing quietly and giving the followers a chance to offer a 'luqma'. The followers should not be ready to give a 'luqma' immediately as soon as the imam pauses, and they should only do so when there is a genuine need. Giving a 'luqma' immediately is disliked (makruh).
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Note
5. A woman standing next to a man in prayer under the following conditions:
- The woman is an adult or close to adulthood.
- There is no barrier between them.
- They are praying a prayer that includes bowing (Ruku’) and prostration (Sajdah).
- They are performing the same prayer (either the woman is following the man, or both are following a third person).
- They are facing the same direction.
- The woman’s prayer is valid.
- They are in the same prayer space.
- They remain next to each other for at least one unit (Rukn).
- If the man leading the prayer (Imam) intended to lead a woman’s prayer from the beginning of the prayer. If the Imam did not intend to lead a woman’s prayer from the start, then the man’s prayer will not break; only the woman’s following will not be valid.
A woman’s presence in this position will invalidate the prayers of three men:
- The man directly beside her.
- The man to her left.
- The man behind her.
Related
- The rules of the rows on Friday How to take a place in the rows, fill them in order, keep them straight, and when it is and is not allowed to move forward to an empty gap.
- The conditions for valid leadership (imamate) and for valid following What is required of a person for their leading a prayer to be valid, and what is required of a follower for the congregation to count.
- The four categories of follower: on time (madrik), interrupted (lahiq), late (masbooq), and late and interrupted The four kinds of follower (muqtadi) depending on when they joined and whether they fell behind, and what each one must do to complete the prayer.
- How to pray, step by step The full sunnah method of prayer in order, with the words to say, and how it differs for the imam, the follower and a woman.