He says: If a man comes to the prayer and has missed part of it, and he is close to the imam, and something happens to the imam that prevents him from continuing the prayer, so he appoints a substitute.
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The questioner : He says: If a man comes to the prayer and has missed part of it, and he is close to the imam, and something happens to the imam that prevents him from continuing the prayer, so he appoints this latecomer to complete the prayer as the imam for the rest, what is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh : First, the imam should not appoint a latecomer as his substitute, because that causes confusion for the congregants behind him. He should only appoint someone who has no missed prayers to make up, so that he can conclude the prayer with the congregants when everyone’s prayer is complete. However, if such an incident occurs and he appoints a latecomer, then this latecomer completes the prayer with them. When the congregants have completed their prayer, he continues in his prayer, but they sit down and do not follow him in what is in excess of their prayer. Rather, they sit and wait for him until he completes his prayer and concludes it with them. For example, let us suppose that this latecomer who was appointed as substitute missed two units of the afternoon prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He prays with the congregants and sits for the tashahhud, which is the first tashahhud for him and the final tashahhud for the congregants.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They remain sitting, then he stands up and performs the remainder of his prayer, then he concludes the prayer with them. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : First, the imam should not appoint a latecomer as his substitute, because that causes confusion for the congregants behind him. He should only appoint someone who has no missed prayers to make up, so that he can conclude the prayer with the congregants when everyone’s prayer is complete. However, if such an incident occurs and he appoints a latecomer, then this latecomer completes the prayer with them. When the congregants have completed their prayer, he continues in his prayer, but they sit down and do not follow him in what is in excess of their prayer. Rather, they sit and wait for him until he completes his prayer and concludes it with them. For example, let us suppose that this latecomer who was appointed as substitute missed two units of the afternoon prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He prays with the congregants and sits for the tashahhud, which is the first tashahhud for him and the final tashahhud for the congregants.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They remain sitting, then he stands up and performs the remainder of his prayer, then he concludes the prayer with them. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.