What is the ruling on the tarawih prayer, how many rak'ahs does it consist of, and if someone attends for the 'Isha' prayer and finds the congregation praying tarawih, is it permissible for him to join them with the intention of the obligatory prayer?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on the tarawih prayer, how many rak'ahs does it consist of, and if someone attends for the 'Isha' prayer and finds the congregation praying tarawih, is it permissible for him to join them with the intention of the obligatory prayer, or not?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for him to join them with the intention of the obligatory prayer. If a person comes to the mosque without having prayed the obligatory prayer and finds them praying the tarawih prayer, he joins them with the intention of the obligatory prayer, even if the imam intends tarawih, because every person has what he intends. So, when the imam concludes the tarawih prayer, this person stands up and performs what remains of the 'Isha' prayer for him. Imam Ahmad explicitly stated the permissibility of this issue. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for him to join them with the intention of the obligatory prayer. If a person comes to the mosque without having prayed the obligatory prayer and finds them praying the tarawih prayer, he joins them with the intention of the obligatory prayer, even if the imam intends tarawih, because every person has what he intends. So, when the imam concludes the tarawih prayer, this person stands up and performs what remains of the 'Isha' prayer for him. Imam Ahmad explicitly stated the permissibility of this issue. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.