[of the pillars] (17) of prayer, it does not fall away from the follower [like the rest of its pillars] (18). Furthermore, whoever is required to perform standing is required to perform the recitation [when he is able to do so] (19), like the Imam and the one praying alone. Our evidence is the saying of Allah, the Exalted: {And when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy}. Ahmad said: The people agree that this is in regard to prayer. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, al-Hasan, Ibrahim, Muhammad ibn Ka'b, and al-Zuhri said: It was revealed regarding the matter of prayer. Zayd ibn Aslam and Abu al-'Aliyah said: They used to recite behind the Imam, so this was revealed: {And when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy}. Ahmad also said, in a narration by Abu Dawud: The people have reached consensus that this verse is in regard to prayer. [And because it is general, it encompasses prayer through its generality] (21). Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- said: "The Imam was only appointed to be followed; so when he says the takbir, say the takbir, and when he recites, remain silent." [Narrated by Muslim. The hadith narrated by al-Khiraqi was narrated by Malik, from] (22) Ibn Shihab (23) from [Ibn Ukaymah] (24)
the Book, from the Book of the Opening of Prayer. Al-Mujtaba 2/105. And Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on recitation behind the Imam, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/273, 274. And Imam Malik, in: Chapter on recitation behind the Imam in what is not recited aloud, from the Book of Prayer. Al-Muwatta' 1/84, 85. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/241, 250, 285, 290, 457, 460, 478, 487. (17) In M: "fi" (in). (18) In M: "kal-ruku'" (like bowing). (19) In M: "ma'a al-qudrah" (with the ability). (20) In M: "wa 'an" (and from). (21) Omitted from: The original. (22) Instead of this in the original: "Narrated by Sa'id ibn Mansur, in his Sunan, from Abu Musa, who said: The Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- addressed us, clarified our Sunnah for us, and taught us our prayer, saying: When you pray, straighten your rows, and let one of you lead the others; so when he says the takbir, say the takbir, and when he recites, remain silent. Narrated by Muslim". The first hadith was previously referenced on page 131, and the second was also previously referenced on page 208. (23) In the original: "wa rawa Ibn Shihab" (and Ibn Shihab narrated), which is an error. (24) In M: "Zakiyah", which is an error; the correct version is in the original and al-Muwatta' 1/86, and the hadith was previously referenced on page 259.
