Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: When the Imam was in Ruku’ or Sajdah in the congregation, I would say the takbeer without folding my hands, also I am not sure if I stood for a moment and thereafter went into Ruku’ or Sajdah, or went straight into the Ruku’ or Sajdah. I have recently found out that it is Fardh to stand and say the takbeer tahrima, then fold the arms, thereafter one should join the Imam in whatever position he is in. I do not know how many Salah of mine must be invalid, because I did not stand for the moment that one is supposed to after saying the Takbeer Tahrima. Can you kindly provide me with what is the correct procedure when doing this, and also does one have to fold the hands and thereafter join the Imam in the posture he is in. And can you please inform me of what I have to do, because many of my Salah may have been invalid because of my ignorance of this ruling.
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I hope you are in the best of health and spirits, insha’Allah.
Your prayers are valid, insha’Allah.
According to the Hanafi school, it is a condition for the validity of one’s opening takbir that one be standing (or closer to standing). [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]
Therefore, when joining the congregational prayer, one says the takbir, standing, and then moves (whilst saying a second takbir) to whichever position the Imam is in at that point. It is not a condition to fold one’s hands together before moving to join the Imam.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani