Mistakes made by people while praying

The following are states and positions of the Imaam and his followers in congregational prayer:

The first state: Preceding the Imaam

This means that the follower precedes the Imaam in performing Takbeer (i.e., saying, ‘Allaahu Akbar’) Rukoo‘ (bowing), prostration or ending the prayer and this is impermissible as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned us against it, saying: “Is not the one who raises his head before the Imaam afraid that Allaah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his figure (face) into that of a donkey?”[Al-Jamaa‘ah]

The Imaam is the leader, so it is impermissible to precede him. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The Imaam should perform Rukoo‘ before you and get up before you.” [Muslim] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Do not precede me in Rukoo‘, prostration, getting up, sitting or leaving.” [Muslim and Ahmad]

It is agreed upon that preceding the Imaam intentionally invalidates the prayer. Imaam Ahmad quoted Ibn Mas‘ood as saying to the one who preceded his Imaam, “You neither prayed alone nor followed your Imaam.”Ibn ‘Umar narrated that Ibn Mas‘ood said to this man, “You have not prayed alone or with your Imaam.”Then, he struck him and ordered him to repeat his prayer.

If preceding the Imaam was done unintentionally and in performing a Rukoo‘ or prostration before the Imaam, the follower should return and perform Rukoo‘ after his Imaam performs it. If the follower did this intentionally, his prayer would be invalid, but if he forgot to do this or was ignorant regarding this, he would be excused according to the opinion of the majority of scholars who stated that the prayer would be correct as he is excused for his ignorance and forgetfulness, and they obliged him to follow his Imaam. However, Imaam Ahmad said that his prayer is invalid even if this was done out of forgetfulness because of the general indication of the Hadeeths.

The second state: coincidence

This means that the movement of the Imaam and the follower takes place at the same time when they are performing Rukoo‘, prostrating themselves and so forth. This is incorrect as the Imaam should be followed. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The Imaam is to be followed, so when he performs Takbeer, you should perform Takbeer and when he performs Rukoo‘, you should perform Rukoo’ - and do not perform Rukoo‘ before he does…” [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

If the follower performed Takbeerat Al-Ihraam (the opening, ‘Allaahu Akbar’) at the same time as the Imaam or before the Imaam finishes his Takbeer, his prayer would be invalid regardless of whether this was done intentionally of out of forgetfulness. If the follower did this in any other Takbeer, his prayer would be correct, but with an unfavorable act and an improper following of the Imaam. Muslims should avoid any thing that makes their prayer incomplete or invalidates it.

The third state: following

This is what the follower in prayer should do as it achieves the required following in prayer. This is achieved when the follower does all the movements immediately after the movement of the Imaam as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered us to do this by saying: “When the Imaam performs Takbeer, perform Takbeer; when the Imaam performs Rukoo‘, perform Rukoo‘; when the Imaam raises his head and says: ‘Sami‘a Allaahu liman Hamidah’ (Allah hears he who praises him), raise your head and say: ‘Rabbana wa laka Al-Hamd’ (O Allaah, praise be to you). When the Imaam prostrates himself, prostrate yourselves.” [Muslim] This Hadeeth means that the followers should wait for the Imaam until he performs the Takbeer and finishes it, then perform the Takbeer after him. The Imaam should not prolong his Takbeer as the one who is praying after him may hasten and perform the Takbeer before him, thus invalidating his prayer.

Thus, the follower should keep standing until his Imaam performs Rukoo‘ and finishes the Takbeer of Rukoo‘, then he should perform Rukoo‘ and keep in his Rukoo‘ until his Imaam gets up and says, “Sami‘a Allaahu liman Hamidah,” then he should get up and keep standing until the Imaam says the Takbeer and puts his face on the ground, then prostrate himself after his Imaam does. This applies to all the acts of prayer. Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib said, “When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would bend to perform prostration, none of us would bend his back until the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would place his forehead on the ground.”[Muslim] This is the true following with which the prayer is perfected.

The fourth state: lagging

This means that the follower lags behind his Imaam. Scholars considered this state just like preceding the Imaam as it also entails negligence in the required immediate following of the Imaam. If the follower lags behind intentionally until the Imaam performs Rukoo‘ and gets up, his prayer would be invalid, but if there is a reason such as drowsiness, forgetfulness or because of the quickness of the Imaam, then he should perform Rukoo‘ after the Imaam and his prayer will be valid. If the person lags behind on purpose until the Imaam performs Rukoo‘, gets up and prostrates himself, then his prayer would be invalid. If this is done out of forgetfulness or ignorance, he should repeat this Rak‘ah during which he did not follow his Imaam.

The follower should be alert and should concentrate on what he says and does so that he would achieve following his Imaam - something which is required for the perfection of the prayer.


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It is well known to every Muslim that sincerity to Allaah and compliance with the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, are the two conditions for the acceptance of deeds and that any deed that does not meet these two conditions is rejected. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever does something that does not belong to our matter (religion), it will be rejected." [Muslim]

Because of the importance of prayers and its great position in Islam and the fact that many people take them lightly and violate many of their rulings it was necessary to highlight important points regarding the mistakes that are made by some people while they are praying. Additionally, it is equally important to clarify the positions of the Imaam with respect to the people who are praying behind him in congregational prayer.
These clarifications and highlights are vital in order that prayer is performed in a perfect way that frees one's liability and makes one gain its full reward, because many people violate the instructions regarding the manner in which to perform the prayers. The following are some such matters: [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
1. Hastening while going to the mosque or walking very quickly so as not to miss the prayers at the mosque or miss the Rukoo‘ (bowing). This makes the person lose tranquility and any respect for the prayers as well as disturb those who are praying. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "If the prayer is established, do not go to it while running; rather, go to it while walking with tranquility."
2. Using what causes a bad smell that people despise such as cigarettes, Hookah (sheesha) which are worse than leek, garlic or onion. Angels and people who are praying are harmed by such bad smells. Those going to attend a congregational prayer should go to the mosque with a good smell and purify themselves from these bad items.
3. Not raising the hands at the Takbeerat Al-Ihraam (the initial ‘Allaahu Akbar’) or at performing Rukoo‘ or after rising from Rukoo‘ and after standing up after performing the first Tashahhud (the first supplication said when sitting), which are all from the acts of Sunnah (recommendation) in prayers. Also, raising the hands when performing Takbeer at the Funeral Prayer, the ‘Eed and the Istisqaa’ (rain-seeking) prayers.
4. Many Imaams do not say the opening supplication in the prayer, or seek refuge with Allaah from the devil or say the Basmalah (i.e., ‘Bismillaah’i-Rahmaan’i-Raheem), or they might not say the Basmalah in the second Rak‘ah (unit) and the Rak‘ahs that follow, whereas all these matters are among the preferred acts in prayers.
5. Some late-joiners perform Takbeer while performing Rukoo‘ when they come while the Imaam is performing Rukoo‘. In principle, however, Takbeerat Al-Ihraam should be done while standing and then be followed by Rukoo‘. If one hastens and leaves this Takbeer for Rukoo', his prayer would nonetheless be valid and the Imaam’s initial Takbeerat Al-Ihraam (which he missed) will suffice him.
6. Some people raise their eyes towards the sky while praying or look to the left or right, which is what causes forgetfulness or self-whispering. People are ordered instead to lower their gaze and look at their place of prostration.
7. Some people move a lot while praying and do things such as interlocking their fingers, cleaning their nails, constantly move of the legs, adjust their headbands, look at their watch, button up, and so forth. These movements nullify the prayer or at least lessen its reward.
8. Some precede the Imaam, move simultaneously with him or lag far behind him when performing prostration or Rukoo'.
9. Reading from the Mus’haf (printed Quran) during the prayer or following the recitation of the Imaam by looking at the Mus’haf during the Taraaweeh (Night prayers in Ramadhaan) Prayer and so forth without a need entails inattentiveness. If there is a need for reading from the Mus’haf, such us to correct the Imaam’s recitation, there is no problem as far as necessity dictates.
10. Some curve the back or hang the head down while performing Rukoo'. It is reported that Muslims are forbidden from curving their backs, rather the back should be bent with the spine being at a right angle to the body (as far as possible) while performing Rukoo' with the head being aligned and neither raised nor lowered with respect to the head.
11. Some do not perform prostration perfectly by prostrating on the trim of the turban and without placing the forehead on the ground, or they place the forehead on the ground but raise the nose or the feet from the ground. One who does so does not prostrate on the seven organs that are required for perfecting the prostration as mentioned in the Hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
12. Some do not perform Tajaafi during prostration. Tajaafi means keeping the abdomen away from the thighs and the shoulders away from the sides as much as possible. The praying person should not annoy the people who pray beside him and should raise his arms away from the ground and put his palms parallel to his shoulders not his knees. The person should not exaggerate in performing Tajaafi by stretching his body as if he is lying on his abdomen to the extent that his head may reach the row that is ahead of him.
13. Many Imaams shorten the pillars of the prayers to the extent that the people praying behind them cannot catch up with them or say the obligatory Thikr (remembrances or mentionings of Allah). This contradicts the tranquility that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked us to apply in prayers. The Imaam should keep himself in the position of Rukoo‘ or prostration for a period of time that would allow the people who are praying behind him to glorify Allaah three times slowly and carefully and not quickly or hastily.
14. Some perform the Tawarruk (a seated position where the left leg is under the right shin) in the two-Rak‘ah prayers such as the Fajr, the Friday or the voluntary prayers, while not performing it in the four-Rak‘ah or three-Rak‘ah prayers during the last Tashahhud. It is permissible to either perform Tawarruk or not to perform it, but it is better to apply the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The Sunnah is to perform Tawarruk during the last Tashahhud of the three-Rak‘ah or four-Rak‘ah prayer provided that the person will not annoy those who are beside him.
15. Constant moving of the index finger or any other finger during Tashahhud. This finger should be moved only once or twice when the Shahaadah (the testimony of faith) or the name of Allaah is mentioned, and so forth.
16. Some move their two palms when ending the prayer towards the right and the left. The Companions would do this and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Why do I see you raising your hands like the tails of the horses?” Thus, they quit doing this and turned their heads only. [Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’i]
17. Many people do not wear clothing that covers the body properly, but instead wear insufficient trousers and shirts such that when they perform Rukoo‘, the shirt moves and part of their back and buttocks get exposed and people who pray behind them see it. The exposure of any part of the ‘Awrah (part of the body that must be covered according to Islam) nullifies the prayer.
18. Many people, immediately after finishing the obligatory prayers, shake hands with the people next to them and say, “May Allaah accept our and your prayer,” or, “May you get to pray at Al-Bayt Al-Haraam (in Makkah)!” This is a religious innovation as it was not reported that the righteous predecessors did this.
19. Some people get up directly after ending the prayer without saying the supplications approved by the Sharee‘ah such as those glorifying Allaah and praising Him and so forth. Shaykh Ibn Baaz wrote a short treatise regarding the Athkaar that should be said after the obligatory prayers which is very beneficial and which the reader may wish to consult.
20. Some people raise their hands and start supplicating to Allaah after ending the prayer directly and thus do not say the Athkaar that are approved by the Sharee‘ah, and this contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Supplication should be said after finishing the Athkaar as this makes the supplication worthier of acceptance. Supplication after voluntary prayers also is worthier of acceptance than others.

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