except after he finishes the iqamah. This is the opinion of al-Hasan, Yahya ibn Waththab (42), Ishaq, Abu Yusuf, and al-Shafi‘i; it is also the position of the majority (43) of the Imams in the major cities. We say that one should stand at his saying: 'Qad qamat al-salah' (The prayer has been established) because this is a statement that carries the meaning of a command; its intended purpose is to announce to them to stand. Thus, it is recommended to hasten to stand in compliance with the command and to achieve the objective. He should not pronounce the takbir until the muezzin finishes, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) only used to pronounce the takbir after he (the muezzin) finished. This is evidenced by what was narrated from him, that he would straighten the rows after the establishment of the prayer, and he would say during the iqamah what the muezzin said. Anas narrated that he said: 'The prayer was established, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) turned to us with his face and said: "Straighten your rows and stand close together, for I see you from behind my back."' Narrated by al-Bukhari (44). From him also, he said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), when he stood up for prayer, would say thus and thus, to his right and left: "Straighten and align yourselves" (45).' Regarding what was narrated by Abu Dawud from some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that Bilal began the iqamah, and when he said: 'Qad qamat al-salah,' the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Aqamah Allah wa adamaha" (May Allah establish it and perpetuate it) (46). He spoke during the rest of the iqamah similarly to the hadith of ‘Umar regarding the adhan. As for their hadith, Bilal used to perform the iqamah in the same place he performed the adhan; otherwise, there is nothing between the wording of the iqamah and the conclusion of it that would cause Bilal to miss saying 'Amin' with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Once this is established, it
(42) Yahya ibn Waththab al-Asadi, their mawla (freedman). He was the reciter of the people of Kufa, trustworthy. He died in the year 103 AH. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 11/294-295. (43) In the original: 'jaml'. (44) In: The Chapter on Straightening the Rows, the Chapter on the Imam Turning to the People when Straightening the Rows, and the Chapter on Joining Shoulder to Shoulder and Foot to Foot in the Row, from the Book of the Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/184-185. A similar account is narrated from Abu Hurayrah in: The Chapter on the Imam’s Exhortation to the People regarding the Completion of the Prayer and the Mention of the Qibla, from the Book of Prayer, and in: The Chapter on Khushu‘ (Humility) in Prayer, from the Book of the Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/189. It was also excerpted by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the Imam’s Urging to Pack the Rows and Close the Gaps between Them, and the Chapter on the Congregation for the One Who Missed the Prayer, from the Book of Imama. Al-Mujtaba 2/71, 82. Also by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/103, 125, 154, 182, 229, 263, 283, 286. (45) Excerpted by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on Straightening the Rows, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/155. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/254. (46) Previously mentioned on page 87.
