to someone who had left a patch of his foot untouched by water to repeat his prayer, because he had failed to perform ablution as commanded. He instructed those who had slept through a prayer or forgotten it to pray when they remembered, for that is its appointed time for them. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

What is the ruling on the prayer of someone who rises and goes down before the imam, and persists despite being told not to do so? What must he do?

He answered:

Preceding the imam is forbidden by agreement of the imams. No one may bow before his imam, rise before him, or prostrate before him.

Numerous hadiths from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibit this, including his statement in an authentic hadith:

“Do not precede me in bowing or prostrating. Whatever head start I have over you when I bow, you will make up when I rise. I have grown heavy.”

He also said:

“The imam has only been appointed to be followed. When he says ‘Allah is greatest,’ say ‘Allah is greatest’; and when he bows, bow, for the imam bows before you and rises before you.”

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The one offsets the other. When he says, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ say, ‘Our Lord, to You belongs all praise,’ and Allah will hear you. When he says ‘Allah is greatest’ and prostrates, say ‘Allah is greatest’ and prostrate, for the imam prostrates before you and rises before you. The one offsets the other.”