Meaning of the Hadeeth: The Imam has Only Been Appointed to be Followed

As for the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: "The Imam has only been appointed to be followed, so do not differ from him", it does not mean that you shouldn't differ from him regarding the intention. He ﷺ said: "Do not differ from him", then he clarified. He ﷺ said: "Then when (the imam) does Takbeer, do Takbeer, do not do Takbeer until he does it" meaning: follow him and do not precede him. This is the meaning of do not differ from him. And the one part of the speech of the Prophet ﷺ explains the other.