Is it prescribed for the follower (Ma'mum) to say 'Sami' Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears the one who praises Him)?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is not prescribed for the follower (Ma'mum) to say 'Sami' Allahu liman hamidah'. This is the established ruling in the Madhhab, asserted by Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Umar, Abu Hurairah, Ash-Sha'bi, Malik, and the Ashab ar-Ra'y (Hanafi scholars). The primary evidence is the Prophet's command to the followers: 'When the Imam says Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, then say: Rabbana wa lakal hamd.' The use of the particle 'fa' (then) mandates that their utterance ('Rabbana wa lakal hamd') immediately follows the Imam's Tasmi' without separation, which supersedes inference based on analogy or other Hadiths like the narration to Buraydah.
Supporting text
Ibn Sirin, Abu Burdah, Abu Yusuf, Muhammad, Ash-Shafi'i, and Ishaq hold that the follower should say 'Sami' Allahu liman hamidah' just like the Imam, arguing that any remembrance prescribed for the Imam is prescribed for the follower, similar to other remembrances. Furthermore, the narration to Buraydah is cited in support. However, the ruling favors the specific, authenticated Hadith concerning the follower's response over the general one concerning Buraydah.