The imam carries on behalf of the follower every lapse of forgetfulness and every recommended element of the prayer. In all audible prayers the follower is exempt from Qur’anic recitation; in the silent prayers it is commendable—but, according to Mālik, not obligatory—for him to recite, whereas other jurists oblige him to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah. The imam is to be followed in all his states so long as he is neither inattentive nor has invalidated his own prayer.
We appoint the imam only to be followed; therefore any irregularity in the form of the follower’s prayer—his postures of sitting or standing—does not harm him, for he has been commanded to conform to his imam. There is no objection to the leadership in prayer of one who is blind, lame, paralysed in an arm, an amputee, or a eunuch, provided each is knowledgeable about the prayer.
Some have preferred otherwise concerning the eunuch, the paralysed person, and the slave, but the correct view is what I have stated: the defect that disqualifies one from the imamate pertains to religion and recitation, not bodily impairment—aside from the discretionary ruling already mentioned. Thus, whenever a person can articulate the words of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah correctly, the prayer behind him is valid.
It is permissible for a traveller to lead residents and for a resident to lead travellers. Mālik holds that when residents and travellers pray together the better course is for a traveller to act as their imam. When the travelling imam concludes the prayer with the taslīm, the resident followers stand and finish, each on his own, the full prayer required of a resident. If the imam is a resident, the arrangement is disliked yet valid, and every traveller who follows a resident imam must complete the prayer.
Some have said he should repeat the prayer within its time, but that opinion carries no weight. According to Mālik, a traveller is obliged to complete the prayer only if he has caught one rakʿah with the resident imam; if he has not caught a rakʿah, he performs the shortened prayer of a traveller.
When leading a single person, the Sunnah is for the imam to stand on his right; if he leads two, they stand behind him. No one may stand in front of the imam; should someone do so, it is disliked for him, and in Mālik’s view the prayer need not be repeated. Mālik is also reported to have said