Rules of Mass prayers

1481. When a follower makes his Niyyat, it is necessary for him to specify the Imam. But, it is not necessary for him to know his name. For example, if he makes Niyyat that he is following the Imam of the present congregation, his prayer is in order.

1482. It is necessary for the follower to recite all the things of the prayers himself, except Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah. However, if his first or second Rak’at coincides with third or fourth Rak’at of the Imam, he should recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah.

1483. If the follower hears Surah al-Hamd and Surah of Imam in the first and second Rak’at of the Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers, he should not recite them, even if he may not be able to distinguish the words. And if he does not hear the voice of the Imam, it is Mustahab that he should recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah silently. But if he recites them loudly by mistake, there is no harm.

1484. If the follower hears some words of Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah recited by Imam, he may recite as much as he cannot hear.

1485. If the follower recites Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah by mistake, or recites Surah al-Hamd and Surah thinking that the voice he heard was not the voice of Imam, and if he later realizes that it was the voice of Imam, his prayers are in order

1486. If a follower doubts whether he is hearing the voice of Imam, or if he does not know whether the voice he hears is that of Imam or someone else, he can recite Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah, with the intention of obsolute Qurbat.

1487. The follower should not recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah in the first and second Rak’ats of Zuhr and Asr pryaers and it is Mustahab that instead of them he should recite Zikr.

1488. The follower should not say Takbiratul Ehram before the Imam. As an obligatory precaution, he should not say the Takbir until the Takbir of the Imam is completed.

1489. If the follower hears the Salam of Imam or he/she knows when he says Salam, he/she should not say Salam before the Imam, and if he does it intentionally, there is Ishkal.

1490. If a follower recites other parts of prayers other than Takbiratul Ehram before the Imam, there is no objection. But, if he hears them being recited by the Imam, or if he knows when Imam is going to recite them, the recommended precaution is that he should not recite them before the Imam.

1491. It is necessary for the follower that, besides that which is recited in the prayers, he should perform all acts like Ruku and Sajdah with the Imam or a little after him, and if he performs them before the Imam, or after a considerable delay, intentionally, he has committed a sin and, as an obligatory precaution, he must complete Namaz and pray again

1492. If a follower raises his head from Ruku before the Imam by mistake, and if the imam is still in Ruku, he (the follower) should return to Ruku, and then raise his head with the Imam. In this case, the extra Ruku, which is a Rukn, will not invalidate the prayers. However, if Imam raises his head before the follower reaches him, as a precaution, the prayer of the follower will be void.

1493. If a follower raises his head by mistake, and sees that the Imam is in Sajdah, he should return to Sajdah, and if it happens in both the Sajdahs, the prayers will not be void, although a Rukn has been added.

1494. If a perosn raises his head from Sajdah before the Imam by mistake, and as he returns to Sajdah he realizes that the Imam has already raised his head, his prayer is in order. But, if it happens in both the Sajdahs, his prayer is void.

1495. If a follower raises his head form Ruku or Sajdah before Imam by mistake, and does not return to Ruku or Sajdah foregetfully, or thinking that he will not reach the Imam, his congregational prayer is in order.

1496. If a follower raises his head from sajdh and sees that the Imam is still in Sajdah, he joins the Imam in Sajdah thinking that it is Imam’s first, and later realizes that it was actually Imam’s second, the follower should consider his own Sajdah also as second. But if he goes into Sajdah thinking that it is the second Sajdah of Imam, and later learns that it was Imam’s first, he should join Imam in that Sajdah, and also in the subsequent one. In both the cases, however, it is better that he prays again, after completing the congregational prayers.

1497. If a follower goes to Ruku before the Imam by mistake, and realizes that if he raises his head, he may reach some part of the Qir’at (Surah) of the Imam, and if he does so, then goes to Ruku again with the Imam, his prayers are in order. And if he does not return intentioanlly, his prayers are void. And in both Ruku, he must say Zikr but, as an obligatory precaution, he must not say more than a short Zikr in the first Ruku.

1498. If a follower goes to Ruku before Imam by mistake, and realizes that if he returns, he will not reach any part of the Qir’at of Imam, if he waits until Imam reaches him, his Namaz is in order.

1499. If a follower goes to Sajdah before the Imam by mistake, if he waits until the Imam reaches him, his prayers are in order.

1500. If Imam mistakenly recites Qunut in a Rak’at which does not have Qunut, or recites Tashahhud in Rak’at which does nothave Tashahhud, the follower should not recite Qunut or Tashahhud. But, he cannot go to Ruku before the Imam or rise before the Imam rises. In fact, he should make a hint and if it was not effective, he must wait till the Qunut or Tashahhud of Imam ends, and continue the rest of prayers with him.