I say, and with God's success: The follower (mu'tamir) does not read behind the imam, but rather listens and pays attention. Allah, the Exalted, said: {And when the Quran is recited, listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy} [Al-A'raf: 204]. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the imam says 'Allahu Akbar', you should say 'Allahu Akbar', and when he reads, you should listen." This is found in Sunan Abu Dawood 1: 165, Al-Mujtaba 2: 141, and Sunan Ibn Majah 1: 276. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "Whoever has an imam, the reading of the imam is his reading." This is found in Sunan Ibn Majah 1: 277, Sunan Al-Daraqutni 1: 353, and Sharh Ma'ani Al-Athar 1: 217. And from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) turned away from a prayer in which he recited aloud and said: "Did anyone of you read with me just now?" A man said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "I say, what do I have to dispute with the Quran?" So the people stopped reading along with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the prayers where he recited aloud when they heard that from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)." This is found in Jami' Al-Tirmidhi 9: 118-119, Sunan Ibn Majah 1: 276, and Musnad Ahmad 2: 284. And from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "I would prefer to bite on a burning coal than to read behind the imam," and a similar statement from Al-Aswad in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 331. And from Sa'id ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I wish that the one who reads behind the imam had a burning coal in his mouth." And from Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "I wish that the one who reads behind the imam had a stone in his mouth." This is found in Al-Muwatta of Muhammad 1: 423 and Al-Ajam Al-Awsat 8: 87.