Iqtida' (following an imam in prayer)

In the language, iqtida' means to act as someone acts, taking him as a model. In prayer, the jurists use it for the follower's following of the imam in the actions of the prayer, or for binding the follower's prayer to the imam's under conditions the Law set out. ¹

Al-i'timam has the same sense in prayer and is narrower in the jurists' use, since it concerns prayer only; iqtida' is wider. Ittiba' can mean following in prayer, or returning to a view supported by proof. Al-ta'assi means imitation and is used mostly in prayer. Taqlid means accepting another's word without proof. ^{1 2}

In prayer, following means copying the imam's standing, bowing, prostration and other acts. Outside prayer, it means imitation, as the community follows the Prophet in his words and deeds. ²

In general the imam must be Muslim and sane, by agreement, and must be an adult in the majority view. For men following men he must be male. He must be free of visible excuses if healthy men follow him, and free of speech defects if a speaker without them follows him. ²

• Intention: the jurists agree that it is a condition of validity. They differ on whether it may be spoken aloud. ³
• Not standing ahead of the imam in position, according to the majority. Malik allows it if the follower can keep following the imam. ⁴
• The follower must not be in a stronger state than the imam; for example a reader may not follow an unlettered person. ¹⁰
• The two prayers must match in kind, time and form according to the majority; the Shafi'is require only that the outward actions agree. ^{10 11}
• No large barrier may separate them. Distance, a river that boats can cross, a public road, and a large wall are discussed, and the jurists differ on the measures. ^{11 12 13}
• The follower must know the imam's movements by hearing or sight. The Hanafis add knowing the imam's state, such as residence or travel. ^{14 5}
• The imam's prayer must be valid in the follower's view. ^{5 6}

The mudrik catches the whole prayer with the imam. The masbuq misses some or all of the rak'as. The lahiq falls behind the imam, through excuse or without it, and each case has its own ruling. ^{6 15}

The follower must follow the imam in the obligatory actions of the prayer without delay. Joining the imam in the opening takbir invalidates the prayer in the majority view; the Hanafis say joining is not harmful. Recitation, glorification and the tashahhud are not subject to the same following. ^{7 16}

The article discusses a person who performed ablution following one who performed dry ablution, a washer following one who wiped, a fard prayer behind a supererogatory one, an adult behind a child, a prayer behind a different fard, a resident behind a traveller, a person behind someone with an excuse, a clothed person behind a naked one, a reader behind an unlettered person, a capable person behind one unable to perform a pillar, a person behind a sinner, a follower of one school behind an imam of another, and a person behind one who cannot speak. Most of these carry disputes between the schools. ^{8 17 18 19 9 20}

Following outside prayer depends on who is followed. Following the Prophet in matters of religion is obligatory or recommended according to the ruling of the act. Following his natural habits is permitted. A non-mujtahid may follow a mujtahid in matters the mujtahid has decided. ²¹