His words, “The imam has only been appointed so that he may be followed,” make clear that congregational following (al-ittimām) is emulation and compliance. By definition, the follower neither goes ahead of the one he follows nor acts in unison with him; rather, he performs every movement after him.

The prescribed remembrance for the imam, the congregant, and the lone worshipper after rising from bowing is to say, “Our Lord, to You belongs all praise …” Whereas “Allah hears the one who praises Him” is the statement suited to the imam, “Our Lord, to You belongs all praise” befits everyone.

If the regular appointed imam prays seated because of an excuse, then perfect conformity requires the congregants to pray seated as well, even though they themselves have no excuse.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: The hadith indicates that when the congregant considers the sitting of rest (jalsat al-istirāḥa) to be legislated in every case while the imam does not, he follows his imam and omits it. Conversely, if the imam practices it and the congregant does not deem it prescribed, the congregant should sit with his imam. All of this is in order to realize proper following.

According to the school of Imam Ahmad, leadership in prayer by one who is unable to stand is valid only for worshippers in a similar condition—except for the regular imam. If that imam is unable to stand because of an illness expected to pass, the prayer behind him is valid, and it is recommended for the congregation to sit behind him even though they can stand. If he began the prayer standing and during it became unable to continue standing and sat, the congregation must nevertheless remain standing; this is obligatory.

The scholars unanimously agree that it is forbidden for the congregant to precede his imam, but they differ over whether this invalidates the prayer.
• The majority maintain that it does not nullify the prayer.
• Imam Ahmad held that if a worshipper precedes his imam in an essential pillar such as bowing or prostration, he must return and perform that pillar after the imam. Should he intentionally fail to do so until the imam joins him in that pillar, his prayer is void.

Shaykh Taqiyy al-Din also said: The leading jurists agree that it is unlawful to deliberately race ahead of the imam; as for whether the prayer is nullified by that alone, there are two opinions in the Hanbali school and others, and