Is he who raises his head before the Imam not afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his shape into that of a donkey?

Arabic text

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ - أَوْ: لاَ يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ - إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الإِمَامِ، أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ، أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ صُورَتَهُ صُورَةَ حِمَارٍ».

Translation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Is he who raises his head before the Imam not afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his shape into that of a donkey?"

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies the serious threat to the one who raises his head in prayer before his Imam, as Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or transform his shape into that of a donkey.

Benefits

• There are four conditions for a person led in prayer in relation to the Imam, three of which are prohibited and they are: making a movement before the Imam, making a movement simultaneously with the Imam, and delaying in following the Imam. The prescribed condition; however, is: acting immediately after the Imam.
• It is obligatory for the one led in prayer to follow the Imam.
• The threat to transform the shape of the one who raises his head before the Imam to that of a donkey is possible and is a form of deformation.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship
• Prayer
• Rulings of the Imam and Followers in Prayer