[Q 565] Following the Imam in Tasleem

QUESTION:

When praying in jamaat must one need to repeat the salaams after the imam does? Are the 2 salaams included in the “Takbeer al-Intiqal”? So after the imam says “as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah” should the Muqtadi also say the same, quietly to himself? Or can he just not say anything at all and just turn his head?

Also, if the Muqtadi is to say it after the imam, then must he wait until the imam has finished the sentence and completely said “as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah” for him to then repeat it quietly to himself? Or can he say it whilst the imam is about to finish the salaam? For example, whilst the imam is on the final part of the word “rahmatullah”? Or does this even matter?

ANSWER:

While turning the head for Salam, saying the words of Salam is Wajib (necessary) for the Muqtadi (follower) as well. Merely turning the face is not sufficient; rather, he must verbally say the words of Salam.

The Sunnah method is that the Muqtadi who has been with the Imam from the beginning of the prayer should begin his first Salam as soon as the Imam begins his Salam. That is, when the Imam starts turning for Salam, the Muqtadi should also begin his Salam before the Imam completes his Salam. This method is also Sunnah according to Imam A‘zam Abu Hanifah رضي الله عنه, and the Muqtadi has been instructed to act upon this. This is the more virtuous method.

However, if someone gives Salam after the Imam has completely finished his Salam, this is also valid.

It is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari:

وكان ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما يستحب إذا سلم الإمام أن يسلم من خلفه۔۔۔ عن عتبان قال صلينا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فسلمنا حين سلم
(Sahih al-Bukhari ma‘a al-‘Umdah, Vol. 4, p. 600, Multan print)

Under this chapter, ‘Allamah Zakariyya Ansari رحمه الله states:

قضيته كالحديث الآتي: أن يقارنه في السلام الحينية الآتية۔۔۔ وكأن البخاري يميل إلى أنه يسن له أن يسلم عقب سلام الإمام، فاحتج له بقوله وكان ابن عمر إلخ۔۔۔ فسلمنا حين سلم أي معه بحيث كان ابتداء سلامهم بعد ابتداء سلامه وقبل فراغه منه
(Minhat al-Bari, Vol. 2, p. 553, Maktabat al-Rushd)

In Fatawa Razawiyyah it is stated:
“Following the Imam (Mutaba‘at al-Imam), which is Fard (obligatory) upon the Muqtadi in Fard prayer, includes three forms. One of them is that each action of the Muqtadi occurs in complete concurrence with the action of the Imam, without delay. This is the exact Sunnah method, and according to our Imam A‘zam رضي الله عنه, the Muqtadi has been instructed to act upon this.”

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 7, p. 274, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 22nd February 2026.