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The follower is in front of the imam      

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Qibla.com

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Is a person’s prayer valid in the Shafi’i madhhab if he or she is physically in front of the Imam?

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Reliance of the Traveller (f12.35) says,

“The follower’s prayer is invalid if his heel is farther forward than the imam’s. (O: He should be farther back than the imam’s heel, even if only a little, but not more than 1.44 meters, for otherwise, the merit of group prayer is lost (A: i.e. unrewarded though no legally invalid).)”

And Allah knows best.

Shazia

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