Praying Maghrib behind someone who is praying 'Isha'
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Fatwa number ( 17694 )
Q1: A person entered the mosque for the Maghrib prayer and found that the congregation had already started praying. He joined them in the prayer, and when the imam finished with the taslim, it became clear to him that they had been praying 'Isha' combined with Maghrib. He prayed four rak'ahs. Is his prayer valid for Maghrib, given that he prayed four rak'ahs, or was he supposed to sit for the final tashahhud after the imam stood up for the fourth rak'ah, wait, and then say the taslim with the imam?
A1: It is obligatory for one who is praying Maghrib behind someone who is praying 'Isha' to wait after the third rak'ah until the imam says the taslim, so that he says the taslim with him. Alternatively, he may intend to separate from the imam, sit after the third rak'ah for the tashahhud, and then say the taslim. If he completed the prayer with the imam for four rak'ahs out of ignorance, and did not change his intention from Maghrib to 'Isha', then his prayer is valid, and he must perform the prostration for forgetfulness if he learns of this before the taslim or after it, provided the interval is not prolonged.
Q2: If a person entered the mosque for the Maghrib prayer but found the congregation praying, so he prayed with them, and it became clear to him that he caught up with the imam in the second
rak'ah, which was the 'Isha' prayer, then he would have prayed one rak'ah, then sat for the first tashahhud, then prayed two rak'ahs and said the taslim with the imam. Is his prayer valid for Maghrib, and is it permissible for him to then pray 'Isha' combined on his own, since the mosque congregation had combined Maghrib and 'Isha'?
A2: If the one who joined late (masbuq) prayed three rak'ahs of Maghrib behind an imam who is praying 'Isha', his prayer is valid, and it is permissible for him to pray 'Isha' afterwards, because the excuse for combining applies to him and to the mosque congregation.
Q3: If a person entered the mosque and found the congregation praying, for example the tarawih prayer, and he had not yet prayed 'Isha', should he join them in the prayer with the intention of 'Isha' and complete the prayer with two rak'ahs?
A3: It is permissible for one who has the 'Isha' prayer to perform to pray 'Isha' behind someone who is praying tarawih. When the imam says the taslim, he completes the 'Isha' prayer with four rak'ahs. This is because it is established from Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to pray 'Isha' with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then return to his people and pray that prayer with them. Thus, it was a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved him for doing so. Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in some forms of the prayer of fear, prayed two rak'ahs with one group, then said the taslim, then prayed two rak'ahs with another group, then said the taslim. Thus, the second part was a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: A person entered the mosque for the Maghrib prayer and found that the congregation had already started praying. He joined them in the prayer, and when the imam finished with the taslim, it became clear to him that they had been praying 'Isha' combined with Maghrib. He prayed four rak'ahs. Is his prayer valid for Maghrib, given that he prayed four rak'ahs, or was he supposed to sit for the final tashahhud after the imam stood up for the fourth rak'ah, wait, and then say the taslim with the imam?
A1: It is obligatory for one who is praying Maghrib behind someone who is praying 'Isha' to wait after the third rak'ah until the imam says the taslim, so that he says the taslim with him. Alternatively, he may intend to separate from the imam, sit after the third rak'ah for the tashahhud, and then say the taslim. If he completed the prayer with the imam for four rak'ahs out of ignorance, and did not change his intention from Maghrib to 'Isha', then his prayer is valid, and he must perform the prostration for forgetfulness if he learns of this before the taslim or after it, provided the interval is not prolonged.
Q2: If a person entered the mosque for the Maghrib prayer but found the congregation praying, so he prayed with them, and it became clear to him that he caught up with the imam in the second
rak'ah, which was the 'Isha' prayer, then he would have prayed one rak'ah, then sat for the first tashahhud, then prayed two rak'ahs and said the taslim with the imam. Is his prayer valid for Maghrib, and is it permissible for him to then pray 'Isha' combined on his own, since the mosque congregation had combined Maghrib and 'Isha'?
A2: If the one who joined late (masbuq) prayed three rak'ahs of Maghrib behind an imam who is praying 'Isha', his prayer is valid, and it is permissible for him to pray 'Isha' afterwards, because the excuse for combining applies to him and to the mosque congregation.
Q3: If a person entered the mosque and found the congregation praying, for example the tarawih prayer, and he had not yet prayed 'Isha', should he join them in the prayer with the intention of 'Isha' and complete the prayer with two rak'ahs?
A3: It is permissible for one who has the 'Isha' prayer to perform to pray 'Isha' behind someone who is praying tarawih. When the imam says the taslim, he completes the 'Isha' prayer with four rak'ahs. This is because it is established from Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to pray 'Isha' with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then return to his people and pray that prayer with them. Thus, it was a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved him for doing so. Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in some forms of the prayer of fear, prayed two rak'ahs with one group, then said the taslim, then prayed two rak'ahs with another group, then said the taslim. Thus, the second part was a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.