acts of Sal?t simultaneously with him. The Im?m should teach these rulings to people leniently and kindly for he is held responsible for them in this world and will be called to a count regarding them on the Hereafter. The Im?m has indeed the more reason to do his Sal?t perfectly and in a good manner. Doing so, he would be granted a reward equal to that granted to whoever does Sal?t behind him if he performs it perfectly. On the other hand, he would get sins equal to that of those who do it improperly if he himself does so’. (1)

The following authentic event shows our dear reader how keen were the Salaf [Sah?bah] not to precede their Im?ms in Sal?t, considering the one who does so as a thief and a traitor.

Ibn Kath?r said: ‘Al-Hajj?j Ibn Y?suf once performed Sal?t near Sa‘?d Ibn Al-Musayyab -before the former was appointed as an Am?r [deputy] on any of the Islamic states- while doing Sal?t, Al-Hajj?j used to raise his head from Ruk?‘ before the Im?m does and do Suj?d before the Im?m does.

Having recited Tasl?m, Sa‘?d took hold of Al-Hajj?j’s clothes till he finished the Athk?r he used to recite after Sal?t. In the mean time, Al-Hajj?j was trying to pull his clothes out from Sa‘?d’s hand. Having finished all his Athk?r, Sa‘?d addressed Al-Hajj?j saying: ‘O stealer! O traitor! Do you perform your Sal?t in such a manner?! I was about to hit your face with a slipper’.

Al-Hajj?j went away saying no word. Later on, Al-Hajj?j performed Hajj, went back to Ash-Sh?m, then was appointed as a deputy for the Am?r of Hij?z. He then went back to Mad?nah as a deputy after killing Abdull?h Ibn Az-Zubair. Upon entering the mosque at Al-Mad?nah, Al-Hajj?j noticed Sa‘?d teaching his students. He headed towards him. People felt afraid that he would do evil to Sa‘?d, but he sat before him and asked him: ‘Are you the one who said such and such words to me that day?’. Hitting him with his hand on his chest, Sa‘?d answered in the affirmative.