Jamaat Salaah and Imaamat

Following the Imaam in sajdah even if one did not complete "Rabbana Wa la kal hamd"

Q: When the Imam says Sami Allah Huli man Hamidah, I try to say Rabbana Wa la kalhamd. But before I finish saying it, the imam says Allah Hu Akbar and goes into sajdah before I have finished saying Rabbana Wa la kalhamd. In this case, should I:

  1. Stop saying  Rabbana Wa la kal hamd as soon as the Imaam says the takbir and goes into sajdah?
  2. Continue to say Rabbana Wa la kalhamd while following the imam into sajdah?
  3. Do not say Rabbana Wa la kalhamd at all knowing that I won't finish it in time before the imam goes into sajdah.

Moving and turning in Salaah

Q: In the mosque where I pray, the Imam stands at an angle of 5 degrees if compared to the people behind him and keeps rotating more at and angle of 5 degrees while reciting the Quran. He is in proper alignment with people during the rukhu and sajda. The same continues in the next salah where he is at an an angle of 5 degrees and then keeps rotating. But when he reads his sunnah he reads normal i.e he stands straight and does not rotate. Also he keeps touching the mimbar which is close to him as it is small mosque while going into rukhu and sajda and while getting up from rukhu and sajda. Me and my friends had asked the reason to many elderly people who come to the same mosque who said that the concentration level of his is very high so he does not notice that he is rotating and touches the mimbar for support (he does not require support while reading sunnah as he prays any where behind). No one wants to tell this to the Imam as he short tempered. So will our salaah be complete/fulfilled or should I opt to pray at home as there is no other mosque nearby?

Imaam breaking his wudhu

Q: If the Imam breaks his wudhu during salaah, does the entire congregation need to break their salaah and wait for the Imam to do wudhu and then restart the salaah or can the Imam select a person from behind to complete the salaah while the Imam goes to do wudhu?

Joining the jamaat late

Q:

  1. If the Imam is in or has just gone in to Ruku and one joins the Jamat, do you have to drop the hands to the side and stand a few seconds after saying Allahu Akbar or can one just raise the hands, say Allahu Akbar and go straight in to Ruku?
  2. If one joins the Jamat late and before finishing reciting Attihiyyat up until Abdoohoo Wa Rasoolooh, the Imam does Salam, does the person complete the recitation of Attihiyyat or does he stand up immediately to complete the missed rakats?

Masbooq (latecomer) joining the Salaah

Q:

  1. If the Imaam is in ruku, does one have to first tie the hands and stand in order to get the rakaat, or does going directly into ruku after takbeer suffice?
  2. If one makes takbeer and while going into the sitting posture the imaam makes one salaam, can one still join the salaah?
  3. If one has to complete missed rakaats in jamaat: In the final sitting, does one read attahiyat, durood as well as the dua, or just stop after reciting the shahadah?

Hanafi leading Shaafi'ees in Salaah

Q: I am situated an area where Hanafi madhhab is minority, and I regularly lead the salaah at the local Musallah. I am a Hanafi. Please can you clarify the following, as I don't want to create any confusion in the community:

  1. Is it permissible for me to lead the Asr salaah, even though the Shafiee time is followed?
  2. For Fajr and Zohr salaah, if I have not performed my sunnats as yet, should I decline to lead the salaah?
  3. When leading taraweeh: If majority of the jamaat performs the sajdah ​tilaawat in 17th para, and not the sajdah in 23th para, do I have to do this as well, or do I do as I have been taught?
  4. Witr in Ramadaan: Can I lead the witr, as I believe the Shafiee method is different?
  5. Recently, one of the brothers, while leading salaah performed sajdah sahw, by making both salaams, then 2 sajdahs, then immediately 2 salaams to end the ​salaah. Is the salaah correct, as I have been taught differently?
  6. I notice that the Imaams in the area say something in Arabic before the salaah, which I believe is related to straightening the saffs. Is this a sunnat, and if so, what exactly should I say.