How Do I Follow an Imam Who Delays Saying Takbirat of Movement in Prayer?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
The Imam at my Masjid delays the Takbirs of movement and “Sami’ Allahu liman Hamidah” until he reaches his next posture in the Salat; he most likely does this to make sure the followers don’t precede him in bowing, rising, or prostrating.
However, this has been a cause for a major issue for me. I’m worried that this could invalidate the Imam’s prayer, and the prayer of the followers (who are aware of this mistake) by praying behind him, as the Imam completely avoids saying the dhikr of movement until he has settled in his 2nd position/place in prayer (in prostration, bowing or rising) instead of saying part of it while moving, and part of it after reaching there.
What must I do here?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are well.
The sunna method of performing takbirat of movement is one says the takbir when moving onto the next posture, from standing (qiyam) into bowing (ruku), from bowing (ruku) into prostration (sajda), and ending it when one settles in it. [Ibn ’Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
In your case, you do not have to worry as long as you – and the congregation – are with the Imam in that posture. You will be part of that posture and not have missed it.
Advice
Speak to Imam with wisdom and tact how to go on about each posture and what is the proper way for the followers to proceed, perform and follow.
Related:
Prayer Reader: The Ultimate Guide To Prayer in Islam
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
