What is the ruling on someone who prayed behind a resident imam while he was a traveler, and the imam completed the prayer and saluted at the second rak'ah?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The congregant must follow the imam even if the latter makes a mistake, because the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, the Imam is appointed to be followed." If a traveler prays behind a resident imam, he must pray a full prayer and not shorten it; otherwise, his prayer is invalid and he must repeat it. Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said to someone who did not follow his imam: "You neither prayed alone nor followed your imam." Ibn Taymiyyah said: "The prayer of the congregant is determined by the prayer of the imam."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/34175
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 34175
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy