Q: When should the muqtadi (follower) start to change posture in salat (e.g. from qiyam to sajdah): should he start moving immediately when the imam starts saying “Allahu akbar” or should he wait until the imam has completed saying the whole phrase “Allahu akbar”? Or should he, if he can see the imam, wait until the imam has totally completed his change of posture.
A: The Imaam should commence the Takbeer at the time he begins moving from one posture to the next and end the takbeer at the time he reaches the next posture. Upon hearing the Takbeer of the Imaam, the Muqtadi should follow and change posture, however he should not precede the Imaam.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)