six, and they used to perform five, six, and seven takbirs over the people of Badr. If he exceeds seven, he should not follow him; Ahmad explicitly stated this. In a narration by Abu Dawud, he said: "If he exceeds seven, it is appropriate that he should be prompted with tasbih (saying subhan Allah)," and I do not know of anyone who allowed increasing beyond seven except 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud. For 'Alqamah narrated that the companions of 'Abd Allah said to him: "The companions of Mu'adh perform five takbirs over funerals, so would you set a time for us?" He replied: "When an Imam leads you (12), perform takbir as he performs takbir, for there is no fixed time nor number." This was narrated by Sa'id and al-Athram. The correct view is that one should not exceed seven, because this was not transmitted from the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) nor from any of his companions (13), but he should not perform the taslim until his Imam performs it. Ibn 'Aqil said: "There is no disagreement in Ahmad's statement that when the Imam performs more than four takbirs, he (the follower) should not perform the taslim before his Imam, according to the three narrations. Rather, he should follow him, wait, and then perform the taslim with him." Al-Khallal said: "The practice based on the text of his statement, and what is established from him, is that he should follow the Imam in the takbirs up to seven, but if he exceeds seven, he should not, and he should not perform the taslim except with the Imam." This is the school of al-Shafi'i, in that he should not perform the taslim before his Imam. Al-Thawri and Abu Hanifah said: "He may depart, just as if the Imam were to stand for a fifth rak'ah, he would separate from him and not wait for his taslim." Abu 'Abd Allah said: "How strange is the state of the Kufans! Sufyan departs when the fifth takbir is performed, while the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed five takbirs, and Zayd ibn Arqam and Hudhayfah did so, and Ibn Mas'ud said: 'Perform takbir as your Imam performs takbir.' Also, because this is an additional statement over which there is disagreement, so he should not perform the taslim before his Imam if he is occupied with it, just as if he prayed behind someone who performs qunut in a prayer in which the Imam differs from him (14) regarding the qunut therein. It differs from what they drew an analogy to in two aspects: First, that the fifth rak'ah involves no disagreement. Second, that it is an action, whereas the additional takbir is different from it; for every takbir in which we have said he follows the Imam, he may perform it, and otherwise he may not.

Section: The best course is not to exceed four, because in doing so one exits the disagreement, and most