1 Benefit a day (Day 11)

A common mistake & a Solution from the Sunnah 📝 QUESTION: When Tarawih/night prayer begins, some people wait until the Imam goes into rukoo', then he joins the prayer and goes into rukoo' with him, is his action correct? Also, when the Imam completes the (first) unit and gets up for the second, some people remain seated until when the Imam is just about to go into rukoo' they get up and bow with him, is that permissible? ✅ ANSWER (Sheikh 'Uthaymeen rahimahullah): As for a person delaying to join the Imam until he says Takbir for rukoo', then this is inappropriate conduct, rather I am unsure whether his rak’ah is valid or not; because he delayed deliberately such that he was unable to recite the Fatihah; which is a pillar that is not waived for the Imam, the one praying behind the Imam, nor the one praying alone. So for one to (deliberately) delay until the Imam goes into rukoo' and then get up and join him in rukoo', that is without a doubt a mistake and a risk to that particular rak'ah, if not his entire prayer. However, if one prays seated, until when the Imam goes into rukoo' he stands and performs rukoo' with him, then that is fine; because Tarawih is a voluntary prayer, and the Prophet ﷺ used to pray sitting when he grew old and weak; he would start praying and recite while seated, then when he came close to bowing, he would get up and recite whatever he was able of the Qurʿān before bowing. Likewise, if someone bows with the Imam, and when the Imam stands up for the second rak'ah he remains seated until the Imam is about to bow for the second rak'ah he gets up and bows with him, that is all okay. 📚 [Majmoo' wa rasa'il Ash-Sheikh Al-Uthaimeen (V. 13 - آداب الخروج إلى المسجد)]