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What About Intending Praying in Congregation?
- A follower must intend congregation before following the imam's movements.
- A follower intends following the imam (Ar. iqtida') while the imam intends being an imam (Ar. imamah).
- It is also valid for either (or both) to intend congregation (Ar. jama'ah).
- Only after this intention is made does one start to get the reward of praying in congregation.
Therefore, it's ideal to make this intention during the opening Allahu Akbar along with the other components of the intention.
If the imam forgets to intend the congregation for dhuhr and only does so in the second rak'ah, he gets the reward of praying three rak'ahs in congregation and one rak'ah alone.
If the imam never intends congregation, he gets the reward of praying alone. Those who made the intention of following him get the reward of praying in congregation. |
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Following an imam
While following an imam, it is recommended for the followers to listen quietly to the imam's recitation of fatiha. In order to conform with all the recommended acts regarding the fatiha, followers of an imam in the shafi`i madhab recite the fatiha silently to themselves only after the imam finishes his fatiha and everyone says "ameen". Even if that means you will end up reciting a bit over his next sura.
In the case where you know that the imam recites very quickly, or does not leave much room for recitation after his fatiha and recites short suras, then there is no blame in beginning your fatiha during the recitation of his fatiha. This will never nullify your prayer.
- It is essential (fard) to recite the Fatihah, unless you are following an imam behind whom there was not enough time to recite it (i.e., at a medium pace). In such a case, you are not obligated to recite the rest of the Fatihah; rather, you are to bow with the imam
- When he bows with the Imam, even when the Masbuq's Fatiha is not finished, he has caught that rak'a. If he does not bow with the Imam and the Masbuq persists on finishing the Fatiha (or if he manages to finally bow but does not manage a Tama'nina [repose] with the bowing ) , and during the course of that the Imam straightens up [I'tidal] from his bowing position, then he will have missed that rak'a and will need to replace it when the Imam ends the prayer.
- If the Imam is already going down into Sujud ( while the Masbuq has not yet bowed ) , the Ma'mum's prayer is invalidated
- When one is a latecomer to a group prayer, it is recommended not to stand up to finish one's missed rak`as until the imam has said both Salams. Except when one joined the group at the final Tashahhud - stand up after first salaam.
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