Section (122): It is recommended for the followers (ma'mumun) not to rise (123) before the Imam, so that he may not recall a forgetfulness and thus have to perform the prostration of forgetfulness. The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: "I am your Imam, so do not hasten before me in bowing, nor in prostrating, nor in rising, nor in departing." Narrated by Muslim, [and al-Nasa'i, and the wording of Muslim is: "Do not precede me." (124)] If the Imam violates the Sunnah by prolonging his sitting [facing the qibla] (124) or by turning away, there is no harm if the follower rises and leaves him (125).
Section: He may depart in any direction he wishes, to the right or to the left, because of the saying of Ibn Mas'ud: "Let no one among you assign a portion of his prayer to Satan, believing (126) that it is a duty upon him not to depart except from his right side. I have seen the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- most (127) often depart from his left side." Narrated by Muslim (128). From [Qabisah ibn Hulb, from his father] (129), that he prayed with the Prophet -peace be upon him-, and he would depart from both of his sides. Both were narrated by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah (130).
Section: [It is disliked that] (131) the Imam performs voluntary prayer in [the place of his] (132) obligatory prayer.
(122) Omitted from: M. (123) In M: "that they rise." (124) Omitted from: The original. It was mentioned previously on page 209. (125) In M: "and abandons him." (126) Omitted from: M. (127) In M: "often." (128) In: The Chapter on the Permissibility of Departing from Prayer from the Right and Left, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/492. It was also narrated by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on Turning and Departing from the Right and Left, from the Book of Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/216. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on How to Depart from Prayer, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/239. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on Departing from Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/300. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on Which Side One Should Depart from Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/311. (129) In the original: "Hulb." (130) The first was previously cited; the second was narrated by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah, in the aforementioned location. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 5/226, 227. (131) In M: "Ahmad said: No." (132) In M: "the place where he prayed in it."
