The Warning Against Preceding the Imām in Prayer

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Some scholars of ḥadīth among the Ahl al-Ḥadīth, including al-Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī (d. 1014 AH / 1606 CE), Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī (d. 911 AH / 1505 CE), and others, have mentioned a striking account concerning the seriousness of proceeding ahead of the Imām in prayer.

They relate the story of a man who travelled to Damascus in order to study ḥadīth under one of its renowned teachers. During his studies, a veil was placed between the student and the teacher, such that the student never saw the teacher’s face. As time passed, the teacher noticed the student’s remarkable enthusiasm, diligence, and sincerity in seeking knowledge. Moved by this, the teacher decided to remove the veil and reveal his face.

He then addressed the student, saying: “O my son, beware lest you ever precede the Imām.” He continued: “When I first encountered the narration concerning the prohibition of preceding the Imām in prayer, I disregarded it and did not give it due attention. I went ahead of the Imām in prayer, and as a result, my face became as you now see.”

When the veil was lifted, his face was that of a donkey.

This account is cited by the scholars as a powerful admonition and a vivid reminder of the gravity of treating the commands and warnings of the Messenger of Allah ﷻ lightly, particularly in matters of ṣalāh.

This meaning is firmly grounded in an authentic ḥadīth reported by Abū Hurayrah (d. 59 AH / 678 CE), in which the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said:

“Does one of you not fear that if he raises his head before the Imām, Allah ﷻ may turn his head into the head of a donkey, or that He ﷻ may transform his form into that of a donkey?”

This ḥadīth is recorded by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ, indicating the severity of the warning and the seriousness of maintaining proper conduct behind the Imām in congregational prayer.

Reference

Abū al-Ḥusayn Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj al-Qushayrī (d. 261 AH / 875 CE), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Prayer (Kitāb al-Ṣalāh), chapter: Prohibition of Preceding the Imām, ḥadīth no. 427. Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, n.d.

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥīm al-Mubārakfūrī (d. 1353 AH / 1934 CE), Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī bi Sharḥ Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, vol. 3. Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyyah, Beirut, 1990, p. 187.