Suppose a group is praying a voluntary prayer and a person missed an obligatory prayer, then he joins them; does the difference in intention between the obligatory and the voluntary also have an effect?
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The questioner : Suppose a group is praying a voluntary prayer and a person missed an obligatory prayer, then he joins them; does the difference in intention between the obligatory and the voluntary also have an effect?
The Shaykh : This also has no effect. It is permissible for a person to pray an obligatory prayer behind someone who is praying a voluntary prayer. This is indicated by the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), who used to pray the night prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then return to his people and pray that prayer with them. It would be a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them. This occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If someone were to say, "Perhaps the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know about it?" The answer to that is from two angles. First, we say that it is unlikely that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know about it, especially since he was complained to about prolonging the prayer when he prayed with them one night and prolonged it, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called him and admonished him, and the story is well known.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is unlikely that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know about the situation of Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him). The second angle is: even if it is assumed that Mu'adh, or that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), did not know about Mu'adh's action, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knew about it and did not send down a revelation from Allah the Exalted invalidating this action. Therefore, everything that occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is a proof of Allah's approval of it. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not approve anyone in falsehood, even if it was hidden from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is evidenced by His saying:[An-Nisa 4:108] So when these people were plotting what did not please Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and the people did not know about it, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) clarified it and did not approve of it. This indicates that what occurred during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is a proof, even if we do not know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) knew about it; it is a proof by Allah's approval of it. The important point is that the action of Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) is a proof in every case: he is praying a voluntary prayer and his companions are praying an obligatory prayer behind him. Thus, if a person prays behind a group who are praying a voluntary prayer while he is praying an obligatory prayer, there is no blame on him. For this reason, Imam Ahmad stated that if a man enters the mosque in Ramadan and they are praying tarawih, he prays behind the imam with the intention of the night prayer. When the imam concludes the tarawih, the prayer that is part of the tarawih, he completes what remains of the night prayer for him. This is praying an obligatory prayer behind a voluntary prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : This also has no effect. It is permissible for a person to pray an obligatory prayer behind someone who is praying a voluntary prayer. This is indicated by the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), who used to pray the night prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then return to his people and pray that prayer with them. It would be a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them. This occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If someone were to say, "Perhaps the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know about it?" The answer to that is from two angles. First, we say that it is unlikely that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know about it, especially since he was complained to about prolonging the prayer when he prayed with them one night and prolonged it, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called him and admonished him, and the story is well known.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is unlikely that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know about the situation of Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him). The second angle is: even if it is assumed that Mu'adh, or that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), did not know about Mu'adh's action, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knew about it and did not send down a revelation from Allah the Exalted invalidating this action. Therefore, everything that occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is a proof of Allah's approval of it. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not approve anyone in falsehood, even if it was hidden from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is evidenced by His saying:
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allah, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allah, of what they do, encompassing.
يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لا يَرْضَى مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًاThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.