The 4 categories of people during the congregational prayers

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

During the congregational prayers, in regards to following the Imaam, people are divided into four groups:

The “Forerunners”: Those who precede the Imaam in their bowing and prostration and getting up from them. It is like some race or competition as to who will do it first, the Imaam or those who are praying behind him. They do their action even before the Imaam says the Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar).

The “Coinciders”: Those who do the actions simultaneously with the Imaam.  They don't want to precede the Imaam but they also don’t want to be left behind. They will bow and prostrate with the Imaam. They do their actions while the Imaam is still saying the Takbeer. (Many people come under this category).

The “Followers”: Those who follow the Imaam in his actions.  They do not precede him, nor do it simultaneously with him. They wait for the Imaam to complete the Takbeer before doing the required action.

The “Delayers”: They do not precede the Imaam, nor do they coincide with him, but they also don't follow him in the true sense. They do not follow the Imaam even after he has said the Takbeer.  They will keep doing the Adhkaar and wait for a little longer before joining the Imaam.

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Narrated Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم fell from a horse and got injured so he led the prayer sitting and we also prayed sitting. When he completed the prayer he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The Imaam is appointed so that he should be followed; if he says the Takbeer then say Takbeer, bow if he bows; raise your heads when he raises his head, when he says: ‘Sami`a-llaahu liman hamidah’, say: ‘Rabbanaa lakal-hamd’, and prostrate when he prostrates.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. This has also been reported from `Aaishah, Abu Hurairah and others رضي الله عنهم. In other narration it is also mentioned: “And when he prays, standing, you should pray standing. And when he prays sitting, all of you should pray sitting. and straighten the rows for the prayer, as the straightening of the rows is amongst those things which make your prayer a correct and perfect one.”]