Disliked Imam, the prohibition of a follower raising his head before the Imam and overtaking the Imam

This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.

Disliked Imam​

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① Sayyiduna Abu Imamah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ثلاث لا تجاوز صلاتهم آذانهم: العبد الآبق حتى يرجع، وامرأة باتت وزوجها عليها ساخط، وإمام قوم وهم له كارهون
"There are three types of people whose prayer does not go beyond their ears: a runaway slave until he returns, a woman who spends the night in a state where her husband is displeased with her, and the leader of a people whom they dislike."

Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Salat 360.

② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Amr bin Aas رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ثلاثة لا تقبل صلاتهم: من تقدم قوما وهم له كارهون، ورجل أتى الصلاة دبارا - والدبار أن يأتيها بعد أن تفوته - ورجل اعتبد محرره
"Three types of people's prayers are not accepted: the person who becomes the leader of people whom they dislike, the person who prays at the very last moment (meaning after the time has passed), and the person who re-enslaves his freed slave."

Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 593. Ibn Majah, Iqamat al-Salat wa al-Sunnah fiha 970.

A follower should not raise his head before the Imam​

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① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أما يخشى أحدكم إذا رفع رأسه من الركوع والسجود قبل الإمام أن يجعل الله رأسه رأس حمار
"When any one of you raises his head before the Imam in bowing or prostration, should he not fear that Allah might turn his head into the head of a donkey."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Adhan 691. Muslim, Book of Prayer 427/114. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 623.

Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Or Allah might turn his face into the face of a donkey."
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also states:
"Whoever raises or lowers his head before the Imam does so only because his forehead is in the hands of Satan."

Reference: Muwatta 92/1, Hadith 57.

③ Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لا تبادروني بركوع ولا سجود فإني مهما أسبقكم به إذا ركعت تدركوني به إذا رفعت، إني قد بدنت
"Do not hasten before me in bowing and prostration; as much as I go into bowing before you, when I rise you find me, because I have become old (have a heavy body)."

Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 619. Ibn Majah, Establishing Prayer and the Sunnah in it 963.

Prohibition of Competing with the Imam​

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① Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم led us in prayer one day, and when he finished the prayer, he turned towards us and said:
أيها الناس إني إمامكم، فلا تسبقوني بالركوع، ولا بالسجود، ولا بالقيام، ولا بالانصراف، فإني أراكم أمامي ومن خلفي. ثم قال: والذي نفسي بيده لو رأيتم ما رأيت لضحكتم قليلا ولبكيتم كثيرا
"O people! I am your Imam, do not compete with me in bowing, prostrating, standing, and concluding the prayer. I see you from the front and from behind." Then he said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul! If you were to see what I have seen, you would laugh less and weep more." They asked: O Messenger of Allah! What did you see? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
رأيت الجنة والنار
"I have seen Paradise and Hell."

Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer 426/112.