Hazrat Abdullah says that the Imam is appointed so that he may be followed. When he says the takbeer, you should also say the takbeer. When he goes into ruku, you should also go into ruku. When he goes into sajdah, you should also go into sajdah. He should be the first to raise his head and the first to place his head.

Hazrat Salman says that whoever raises his head before the Imam or places his head before the Imam, his forehead is in the hand of Satan; it is he who raises it and it is he who places it down.

Hazrat Abu Huraira states that whoever raises his head before the Imam or places his head before the Imam, his forehead is in the hand of Satan.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Why does the person who raises his head before the Imam not fear that his face may be transformed into that of a donkey?

Hazrat Abdullah says: Why does the one who raises his head before the Imam not fear that his head may be transformed into that of a dog?

Hazrat Bara bin Azib narrates that we used to pray behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When we rose from bowing (ruku‘), we would remain standing in the rows, and when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went into prostration (sajdah), we would also follow him and go into prostration.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muhammad bin Yahya bin Haban that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Because of the increase in my age, flesh has increased on my body. Do not go ahead of me in bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajdah). When going into ruku, I may go ahead of you, but when rising from ruku, you will catch up with me. When going into sajdah, I may go ahead of you, but when rising from sajdah, you will catch up with me.

The same is narrated from Hazrat Muawiyah.

Hazrat Abdullah says: Do not go ahead of your Imam in bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajdah).

Hazrat Ibn Abi Laila says that whoever bows (in ruku) before the imam or prostrates (in sajda) before the imam while praying with the imam, he is not considered to be with the imam.