it is that he did not order him to restart the opening takbir. We say: Because what he did before the ruku' (bowing) does not affect the validity, for the Imam performs the opening takbir before the followers, and his being alone before their opening takbir does no harm. Likewise, the followers may perform the takbir one before another, and it does no harm. It does not follow from the pardon of this [minor act] that a whole rak'ah is pardoned. As for their argument that it is a valid standing place if there is someone else on the right of the Imam, we say: The fact that it is a valid standing place in one scenario does not necessitate that it is a valid standing place in another, just as behind the row; it is a valid place for two people, but it is not a valid place for one. If they contest this, we prove it by the textual evidence.

Section: If he stands to the left of his Imam and there is a row behind the Imam, it is possible that his prayer is valid, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sat to the left of Abu Bakr, and it has been narrated that Abu Bakr was the Imam. Also, because there is someone with the Imam whose prayer is valid through him, the standing to his left is valid, just as if there were another person with him on his right. It is also possible that it is not valid, because it is not a valid standing place if there is no row; thus, it is not a valid standing place with a row, like standing in front of the Imam. It differs from when there is another person on his right, because that person is with him in the row, so it becomes a single row, just as if he stood with him behind the row.

Section: The Sunnah is for the followers to stand behind the Imam. If they stand in front of him, it is not valid. This is the opinion of Abu Hanifa and al-Shafi'i. Malik and Ishaq said: It is valid, because that does not prevent following him, so it resembles standing behind him. Our evidence is his saying (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "The Imam is only appointed to be followed." Furthermore, he needs to look behind him in order to follow him, and this [standing in front] was neither reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), nor is it in the meaning of what has been reported. Thus, it is not valid, just as if he were praying in his house by following the prayer of...