Those who disliked reciting behind the imam

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led a prayer which we think was the Fajr (Subh) prayer. When he had completed the prayer, he said: 'Has any of you recited?' A man said: 'I recited.' He said: 'I was wondering who was contending with me in the Qur'an!'"

Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "One day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the Zuhr prayer. When he finished the prayer, he said: 'Has anyone recited Surah al-A'la (Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High)?' A man said: 'I did.' He said: 'I knew that someone was contending with me.'"

Sayyiduna Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We used to recite behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he said: 'You have confused the Qur'an for me.'"

Abdullah bin Shaddad said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Whoever has an imam, the imam's recitation is recitation for him.'"

Abu Wa'il said: "A man came to Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: 'May I recite behind the imam?' He said: 'There is enough in the prayer to occupy you, and the imam has taken that task upon himself for you.'"

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever recites behind the imam has missed the fitrah (the natural way)."

Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I would like the one who recites behind the imam to have a live coal in his mouth."

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "There is no recitation behind the imam."

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "The imam's recitation suffices you."

Al-Aswad said: "To put a live coal in my mouth is better in my view than to recite behind an imam whom I know to be reciting."

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do not recite behind the imam."

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whether the imam is reciting aloud or quietly, do not recite behind him."

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever recites behind the imam, his prayer does not count."

Al-Aswad bin Yazid said: "As for the one who recites behind the imam, I wish his mouth were filled with dust."

The same is reported through another chain.

Abu Harun said: "I asked Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) about recitation behind the imam, and he said: 'The imam's recitation suffices you.'"

Abu Bishr said: "I asked Sa'id bin Jubayr about recitation behind the imam, and he said: 'There is no recitation behind the imam.'"

Ibn al-Musayyib said: "Remain silent behind the imam."

Muhammad (Ibn Sirin) said: "In my view, reciting behind the imam is not from the Sunnah."

Ibrahim used to consider recitation behind the imam disliked (makruh), and he used to say: "The imam's recitation suffices you."

Al-Walid bin Qays said: "I asked Suwayd bin Ghafalah: 'Should I recite behind the imam in the Zuhr and Asr prayers?' He said: 'No.'"

Al-Dahhak used to forbid recitation behind the imam.

Malik bin Umarah said: "I do not know how many of the students of Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that there is no recitation behind the imam. Among them was Amr bin Maymun."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The imam is appointed only to be followed. So when he says the takbir, say the takbir; and when he recites, remain silent."

Ibrahim said: "The one who recites behind the imam is acting in opposition (to him)."

Abu Wa'il said: "The imam's recitation suffices you."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever has an imam, the imam's recitation suffices for him."