Does the prayer of the congregant become void if he precedes the imam in bowing (ruku‘) and prostration (sujud), or if he lags behind by the imam raising his head before the congregant completes the pillar of bowing or prostration, without a valid excuse?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the congregant joins his Imam in bowing or prostrating, then deliberately raises from them before the Imam, he is sinful and must return to perform what he preceded the Imam in. If he does not do so deliberately, his prayer is invalidated according to some scholars. His prayer is not invalidated if he was ignorant or forgetful. As for a congregant lagging behind his Imam by a full pillar without an excuse, it is said that this invalidates the prayer.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/194149
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- Original fatwa ID
- 194149
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy