DELAYING IN FOLLOWING THE IMĀM

 FAJR REMINDER: DELAYING IN FOLLOWING THE IMĀM

By: Umm Affān

Dhū al-Qa'dah 13, 1447 (1-May-2026)

Last week, I addressed the impermissibility and the harmful consequences of deliberately preceding the Imām in Ṣalāh. Today, the focus shifts to another common issue—delaying in following the Imām.

In reality, delay in following the Imām falls into two categories: (1) delay due to a valid reason, and (2) delay without any excuse.

A delay that occurs for a valid reason may happen when a person becomes distracted, loses concentration, or is unable to hear the Imām clearly. In such a situation, if the Imām has already performed one or two pillars of the prayer—such as Rukū‘ (bowing), rising from it, or Sujūd—the individual should complete what he has missed and then continue following the Imām accordingly.

However, if the gap becomes significantly wide—for example, a person is praying behind the Imām, but due to something like a power outage, he is unable to hear and remains standing while the Imām has already bowed, risen, prostrated, sat, prostrated again, and then stood up—only realizing later when he hears the recitation—then he should continue with the Imām. In this case, what is the second Rak‘ah for the Imām will be counted as the completion of his first Rak‘ah. After the Imām concludes the prayer with Taslīm, he should stand and make up the remaining Rak‘ah.

On the other hand, delaying without any valid excuse refers to lagging behind the Imām in performing a pillar of the prayer, yet catching up with him in the next one. This often happens when some people prolong their final Sujūd or delay during the Tashahhud, instead of promptly following the Imām. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When he prostrates, you prostrate.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd 603; classed as Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh al-Albānī in Irwa’ al-Ghalīl 2/121]

If a person intentionally lags behind the Imām in performing any pillar of the prayer, his Ṣalāh becomes invalid. For instance, if the Imām rises from the first prostration while the follower remains in Sujūd making Du‘ā’, and he continues until the Imām proceeds to the second prostration, then his prayer is invalid. This is because he has clearly fallen behind in a fundamental part of the prayer. After all, how can one truly follow the Imām when he is already a step—or more—behind?

Unfortunately, this is among the frequent mistakes observed in our daily prayers. It is essential for us to learn the correct manner of praying and to be mindful of observing it properly.

I beseech Allāh to set our affairs right and grant us sound understanding. Aameen.