Question:  Does one follow the Imam on both intention and apparent actions or just actions?

Answer: (1) According to Imam Shafi’e r.a  and other scholars, one follows the Imam in apparent actions in Salah only.

(2) However, Imam Malik and Imam Abu Hanifa r.a holds the opinion as above that it should be followed in apparent actions as well as in intention too.

Reference: [1] Sunan Abi Dawud no-517