Answered by Mufti Yusuf Mullan
According to hanafi school, when praying behind an imam, at the end of the prayer, should one say salaam along with the imam or after the imam has completed both his salaams?
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. May his abundant blessings be showered on his beloved prophet, the best of creation.
The opinion relied upon for fatwa in the Hanafi school as quoted by Ibn Abideen is for the follower to begin his salaam towards the end of the Imam’s first salaam. Likewise begin the second towards the end of the Imam’s second salaam. This is the more preferable method of following the Imam as adopted by the later scholars of the school.
For one to say the salaams alongside the Imam is also permissible. Doing so will not detract from the validity or soundness of the prayer.
And Allah knows best.
Yusuf Mullan
instructor@shariahprogram.ca
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