Im?m in the Ruk?‘ or when the latter is about to do it is one of the Masb?q’s mistakes.
Ibn Al-Jawz? said: ‘Some of those who are obsessed with Waswasah recite Du‘?’ul Istift?h followed by Isti‘?thah and miss reciting F?tihah then do Ruk?‘ with the Im?m. This is indeed of Shait?n’s Waswasah.
They left what is obligatory -as some ‘Ulamah stated- to that which is Sunnah ... (1) when I was young I used to perform Sal?t behind our Shaikh Ab? Bakr Ad-Daynawari -the greatest Faq?h of his time- and once he saw me doing that, he said: ‘O son, the ‘Ulamah disagreed amongst themselves regarding the obligation of reciting the F?tihah behind the Im?m, but they all agreed that reciting Du‘?’ul Istift?h is Sunnah [optional], so occupy your self with that which is obligatory and waste not the time with that which is Sunnah [optional]’. (2)
[2/ 43] Some Masb?q?n delay catching up with the congregation, waiting for the Im?m to stand up [from Suj?d] and then join him. Doing so, this Masb?q misses the superiority of doing Suj?d besides violating the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) order which states: ‘When you hear the Iq?mah walk to the mosque with tranquility and calmness and do not haste. Whatever you catch up with the Im?m, do it with him, and whatever you miss complete it’. (3)
The great ‘?lim Ibn Hajar said: ‘This had?th was taken as an evidence on the recommendation of joining the Im?m in whatever position he is. The same ruling is crystal clear in another had?th, narrated by Ibn Ab? Shaibah traced back to a man [Sah?b?] from the ’Ans?r to have narrated it from the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) who said: ‘Whoever finds me doing Ruk?‘, Suj?d or standing should join me in that position’. (4) (5)
(1) “Talb?s Ibl?s” (p.139).
(2) The previous reference.
(3) Narrated by Al-Bukh?r? in his “Sah?h” (vol. 2 / p.117) (no.636).
(4) Narrated by Al-Baihawq? in “As-Sunnan Al-Kubr?” (vol. 2 / p.89). This man from the ‘Ans?r is ‘Abdull?h Ibn Al-Mughaffal as is stated in “Mas?’il Ahmad Wa Ish?q” (vol. 1/ 127 / 1). In the Mas?’il, the had?th runs as follows: ‘Join the Im?m whether he is doing Suj?d, Ruk?’ or standing. If you joined the Im?m in his Suj?d, you should perform a whole Rak‘ah’. This had?th’s chain of narrators is authentic; all the narrators are of the reliable ones -the narrations of whom both Al-Bukh?r? and Muslim narrated for- as stated by the great Muhaddith Al-Alb?n? in his “Silsilat Al-’ah?d?th As-Sah?hah” (no.1188).
(5) “Fathul B?r?” (vol. 2 / p.118).