Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (4/297)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

the mosque,” that is, within a single mosque. A follower’s following of the imam is valid even if there is a distance between them. The apparent meaning of his words is that it is not a condition for the follower to be close to the imam. Thus, if someone follows the imam while standing at the rear of the mosque, with the imam at its front and, for example, fifty metres between them, the prayer is valid, because they are in the same place and following the imam is possible—whether or not he can see the imam.

“And if he does not see him or those behind him, provided that he hears the takbīr; and likewise outside it, if he sees the imam or the followers.”

His statement, “if he does not see him or those behind him,” means that he does not see the imam, nor any of the followers behind him.

His statement, “provided that he hears the takbīr,” means that hearing the takbīr is essential, because it is not possible to follow the imam except by hearing the takbīr, either directly from him or from someone relaying it on his behalf. Thus, when the follower is inside the mosque, there is only one condition for the validity of his following the imam: hearing the takbīr. If he is outside it, the author says:

His statement, “and likewise outside it, if he sees the imam or the followers,” means that the follower’s following of the imam is likewise valid when he is outside the mosque, on condition that he sees either the imam or the followers. The apparent meaning of the author’s words—may Allah have mercy on him—is that continuity of the rows is not a condition. Thus, if we suppose that a person living next to the mosque can see the imam or the followers through his window, and he prays in his house with another person alongside him so that he is not praying alone, then his following of that imam is valid, because he hears the takbīr and sees the imam or the followers. The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that he must see the imam or the followers throughout the entire prayer, lest he be unable to follow the imam. According to the established school, however, it is sufficient for him to see them during only part of the prayer.

المسجد» أي: في مسجدٍ واحدٍ، فيصِحُّ اقتداءُ المأمومِ بالإِمامِ، ولو كانت بينهما مسافاتٍ، وظاهرُ كلامهِ أنه لا يُشترط أن يليَ الإِمامَ، فلو أنَّ أحداً ائتمَّ بالإِمامِ وهو بمؤخِّرِ المسجدِ، والإِمامُ في مقدمه وبينهما مثلاً خمسون متراً فالصَّلاةُ صحيحةٌ، لأنَّ المكانَ واحدٌ، والاقتداءُ ممكن، وسواء رأى الإِمامَ أم لم يرَه. وَإِنْ لَمْ يَرَهُ وَلَا مَنْ وَرَاءَهُ إِذَا سَمِعَ التَّكْبِيرَ، وَكَذَا خَارِجَهُ إِنْ رَأَى الإِمَامَ أَوْ المَأْمُومِين. وقوله: «وإن لم يره ولا من وراءه» أي: لم يرَ الإِمامَ، ولا مَن وراءَه مِن المأمومين. قوله: «إذا سمع التكبير» أي: لا بُدَّ مِن سماعِ التكبير؛ لأنه لا يمكن الاقتداءُ به إلا بسماعِ التكبير إما منه أو ممن يبلِّغُ عنه، فصار شرطُ صِحَّةِ اقتداءِ المأمومِ بإمامِه إذا كان في المسجدِ شرطاً واحداً فقط، وهو: سماعُ التكبير. فإن كان خارجه فيقول المؤلِّفُ: قوله: «وكذا خارجه إن رأى الإِمام أو المأمومين» أي: وكذا يصحُّ اقتداءُ المأمومِ بالإِمامِ إذا كان خارجَ المسجدِ بشرطِ أنْ يَرى الإِمامَ أو المأمومين، وظاهرُ كلام المؤلِّفِ ﵀: أنَّه لا يُشترط اتِّصالُ الصُّفوفِ، فلو فُرِضَ أنَّ شخصاً جاراً للمسجد، ويرى الإِمامَ أو المأمومين مِن شُبَّاكه، وصَلَّى في بيتِه، ومعه أحدٌ يزيل فَذِّيَّتَه فإنه يَصِحُّ اقتداؤه بهذا الإِمامِ؛ لأنه يسمعُ التكبيرَ ويرى الإِمامَ أو المأمومين. وظاهرُ كلامِ المؤلِّفِ: أنَّه لا بُدَّ أن يرى الإِمامَ أو المأمومين في جميع الصَّلاةِ؛ لئلا يفوته الاقتداءُ. والمذهبُ يكفي أنْ يراهم ولو في بعضِ الصَّلاةِ.