If the Imaam is a Hanafi, what should the Shaafi' muqtadis do when he makes Sajdah at the aayat in Surah Ambiya which is not a Sajdah aayat for Shaafi

Answer

When the Hanafi Imaam makes Sajdah Tilaawat at an aayat which is not an aayat of Sajdah for Shaafi's, then the Shaafi' muqtadis have to incumbently remain standing. It is not permissible for them to follow the Hanafi Imaam into the Sajdah. On the other hand, when the Hanafi Imaam abstains from Sajdah at an aayat which is a Sajdah aayat for Shaafis, they should not make Sajdah. Sajdah Tilaawat is Masnoon for Shaafis. It is not Waajib. However this does not mean that when a Shaafi' performs Salaat alone he should omit the Sajdah. The meaning of Sunnat is not abandonment of a teaching of the Shariah nor should it be regarded as a trivial act. Nowadays the disease of denigrating the Sunnah has become endemic due to the propagation of the ulama-e-soo'. In the case of Sajdah Sahw from which the Shaafis should abstain when behind a Hanafi Imaam, the conflict is between a Sunnat and a Waajib, viz., Iqtida (following the Imaam). The Waajib act has preference and priority over the Sunnat act when a suitable reconciliation cannot be effected. Thus, omission of the Sunnat in this case is not on account of disdain or triviality.