he recites the tashahhud after that odd-numbered rakʿah. Were he to do this when praying alone, it would not be permissible; he does so only because he is following the imam. This shows that following an imam makes obligatory certain things that are not obligatory upon someone praying alone, and waives certain obligations that apply to someone praying alone.

Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The imam has been appointed only to be followed. When he says ‘Allāhu akbar,’ say ‘Allāhu akbar,’ and when he recites, listen silently.”

This was narrated by Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasā’ī and Ibn Mājah.

Muslim ibn al-Hajjāj was asked, “Is Abū Hurayrah’s hadith authentic?”—meaning the words, “And when he recites, listen silently.” He replied, “I consider it authentic.”

He was then asked, “Why do you not include it here?”—meaning in his book. He replied, “I have not included here everything I consider authentic. I have included here only what they agreed upon.”

Al-Zuhrī narrated from Ibn Ukaymah al-Laythī, from Abū Hurayrah:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, finished a prayer in which he had recited aloud and asked, ‘Did any of you recite along with me just now?’ A man replied, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘I was wondering: why is someone competing with me in reciting the Quran?’”

He said:

“After hearing this from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the people stopped reciting along with him in those prayers in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recited aloud.”

This was narrated by Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, al-Nasā’ī and al-Tirmidhī, who said, “It is a good hadith.”

Abū Dāwūd said: “I heard Muhammad ibn Yahyā ibn Fāris say: ‘The words “The people stopped” are al-Zuhrī’s own words.’”