Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Mathabah.org » Prayer Behind an Imam who is in Travel

Prayer Behind an Imam who is in Travel

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Mathabah.org

Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt

Question:

Why do Ḥanafīs not recite anything in the 3rd and 4th raka’at when praying behind a traveler. What is the dalīl?

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.

The correct Ḥanafī position is that a traveller can only offer and or lead two raka’ahs in a four raka’ah far prayer. A resident who prays behind a traveller will complete the remaining two rak’aahs after the traveller imam concludes his alāh. The most reliable position in the Ḥanafī school, is that the resident muqtadī (follower) does not need to recite anything in the standing positions of their 3rd and 4th raka’ahs. The reason for this is that the resident is considered behind the imam, in a virtual sense (ukman). In the Ḥanafī school, there is no recitation required behind the imam leading congregation. Please refer to a adīth quoted below. – (See: Rad Al- Muḥtār, Vol 2, Page 123[1] & 129[2], Dār Al-Fikr)

The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I think that you are reciting behind your imam?” We responded, “Yes O Messenger of Allāh.” He then instructed, “Do not do that!” – (Tirmidhī 311)[3]

Only Allāh knows best.


[1]قَوْلُهُ وُجُوبًا فَيُكْرَهُ الْإِتْمَامُ عِنْدَنَا حَتَّى رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ أَتَمَّ الصَّلَاةَ فَقَدْ أَسَاءَ وَخَالَفَ السُّنَّةَ شَرْحُ الْمُنْيَةِ وَفِيهِ تَفْصِيلٌ سَيَأْتِي فَافْهَمْ قَوْلُهُ لِقَوْلِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ إنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ إلَخْ لَفْظُ الْحَدِيثِ عَلَى مَا فِي الْفَتْحِ عَنْ صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْحَضَرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَفِي السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَفِي الْخَوْفِ رَكْعَةً  اهـ وَفِيهِ وَفِي حَدِيثِ عَائِشَةَ فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ قَالَتْ فُرِضَتْ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَأُقِرَّتْ صَلَاةُ السَّفَرِ وَزِيدَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْحَضَرِ وَفِي لَفْظِ الْبُخَارِيِّ قَالَتْ فُرِضَتْ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ هَاجَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَفُرِضَتْ أَرْبَعًا وَتُرِكَتْ صَلَاةُ السَّفَرِ عَلَى الْأَوَّلِ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج٢/ ص١٢٣ دار الفكر

[2] وَصَحَّ اقْتِدَاءُ الْمُقِيمِ بِالْمُسَافِرِ فِي الْوَقْتِ وَبَعْدَهُ فَإِذَا قَامَ الْمُقِيمُ إلَى الْإِتْمَامِ لَا يَقْرَأُ وَلَا يَسْجُدُ لِلسَّهْوِ فِي الْأَصَحِّ لِأَنَّهُ كَاللَّاحِقِ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج٢/ ص١٢٩ دار الفكر

[3] لَعَلَّكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَ خَلْفَ إِمَامِكُمْ  قُلْنَا نَعَمْ  قَالَ لا تَفْعَلُوا – اخرجه الترمذي ٣١١

This answer was collected from Mathabah.org. It’s an Islamic educational institute based in Canada. The questions are generally answered by Sheikh Yusuf Badat and Sheikh Omar Subedar.