What Should the Imam and the Follower Say When Rising from Bowing?

Compiled by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (May Allah preserve him)

Question:What should the Imam and the follower say when rising from bowing? Please clarify.

Answer:

The follower should also say سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ when rising from bowing.

It is narrated in the Hadith:

"When the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stood for prayer, he would say the Takbir when standing. Then, when he bowed, he would say the Takbir, and when he rose from bowing, he would say: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Adhan: The Chapter on Saying Takbir When Rising from Prostration, Hadith 789]

This Hadith is general and includes both the Imam's and the follower's positions. Although the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was an Imam, he also prayed behind Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf (رضي الله عنهم) as the follower, as mentioned in a reliable Hadith.
[Abu Dawood, Book of Purification: The Chapter on Wiping Over the Socks, Hadith 149]

From the generality of this Hadith, it is evident that both the Imam and the follower should say سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ. Some people say that the Hadith states:

"When the Imam says سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ, the followers should say: رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ."

Therefore, the Imam should say only سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ, and the follower should say رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ.

Imam al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) states:

"They have no evidence in this, because he commanded saying 'اللهم رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ,' and we say it. But when someone else says something other than this with the Imam, it is not mentioned in this narration."
[Mukhtasar Khilafiyat al-Bayhaqi, Volume 1, Page 393]

He further elaborates:

"It is an established principle that the absence of mention does not imply negation, and from the generality of other Hadiths, it is proven that the follower should say سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ. If this Hadith is understood in such a manner, it would imply that the Imam should say only سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ and not رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ, even though many authentic Hadiths indicate that the Imam should say both."
For details, see: [Mukhtasar Khilafiyat al-Bayhaqi, Volume 1, Pages 391, 393]

According to the Hanafi school, Imam Muhammad, Qadi Abu Yusuf, and Imam al-Tahawi's view is that the Imam should say both سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ and رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ.
[Uqood al-Jawahir al-Munifah fi Adillah Madhhab Imam Abu Hanifa, Page 63]

Thus, when the Imam combines both expressions, there is no contradiction with this Hadith, and similarly, when the follower combines both, it is entirely in accordance with the Hadith and correct. Therefore, the follower should also say سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ.
 
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