1. The imam should be "easy" on his followers. The Prophet (pbuh) is reported as had said "if one leads the people in prayer, he should be "easy" on them for among them may be the weak, the sick, or the aged."19 The imam should not prolong the prayer so much as to create a hardship on his followers.

2. It is preferable that the imam prolongs the first rak`a somewhat to allow others to join the prayer.

3. The congregation is to follow the imam and not to precede him during all acts of the prayer.

4. If the group's regular imam, who was not present at the beginning of the prayer, appears during the prayers, the substitute imam may, if he so chooses, move back and allows the regular imam to take over and lead the prayer.

5. When one joins the congregation while the prayer is in progress, he should say Takbir standing, and get into the prayer at the act being performed directly. However, such a person is not considered to have made the rak`a unless he joins the prayer before or during ruk`u. He then follows the imam till the prayer is concluded. He does not say the tasleem but stands up saying Takbir and completes his prayer.

6. It is permissible to leave the congregational prayer and complete it individually under certain conditions as: When the imam much prolongs the prayer. When one feels sick. When one is concerned about losing money or missing a companion.

7. It is correct to repeat an obligatory prayer by joining another congregation prayer. In this case the new prayer is considered a voluntary prayer.

8. It is disliked for the imam to be at a higher level than the followers, unless there is a compelling reason. However, it is permissible for the followers to be in a higher place than the imam, even at the top of the mosque.

9. It is permissible for the followers to pray behind the imam even in the presence of a physical barrier between them as a river, a road or a wall as long as they can follow his movements either by sight or by hearing.

10.If the imam leaves out a prerequisite or an obligatory act of the prayer unknowingly, the prayer of the followers will be still valid. The imam has to repeat the prayer for himself.

11. If the imam must leave the prayer for some reason as if he remembers that he has not performed ablution or if he loses the state of purity, then he should appoint another person to replace him for the remainder of the prayer.

12. If the imam is disliked by the congregation for reasons related to his religious standing, his prayer is not accepted.

13. It is preferred that the imam stands in a central position in front of the rows and that people of knowledge and wisdom be closest to him. This is preferred so they may correct him if he makes mistakes or one of them may replace him if he has to leave.

14. Men stand in the front rows, followed by boys and then women. Men and women should not stand in mixed rows (except at the Sacred Mosque).