The ruling on holding two congregational prayers in the mosque

Question : I say: The questioner asks about the ruling on having multiple congregational prayers in a single mosque that has a regular imam and a regular mu'adhdhin. This matter arose due to disagreement among the scholars of knowledge regarding the observations.

Answer : Regarding holding two congregational prayers in one mosque: if it is a regular practice, meaning that two imams are appointed in this mosque, one praying at the beginning of the time and the other at the end, then this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) without a doubt. The Salaf (the earliest generations) did not do this. However, if the mosque is narrow and fills up with the first congregation, and the others wait until the first group finishes and then establish the prayer after them, then there is nothing wrong with that. As for if the second congregation is occasional.
Meaning, a group enters and finds that the imam has already prayed. It is recommended (sunnah) for them to pray in congregation, as the Sunnah indicates this. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This hadith is general and includes any congregational prayer. A man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting with his Companions, and he said, "Who will give charity to this man by praying with him?" One of the people stood up and prayed with him. In this is the repetition of the congregation a second time after the first congregation. Indeed, this is greater than if two men had entered and missed the prayer and prayed in congregation, because here the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the one who had already prayed to repeat the prayer in order to establish the congregation for the latecomer. So what about the one who did not pray? For this reason, I am amazed at people who say that if two men enter and have missed the prayer, the congregation is not established. If one man enters, we tell the congregation who have prayed, "Stand up and give charity to him." How can they command these people to repeat the prayer in order to obtain the congregation for the latecomer, while they forbid the two men who entered from establishing the congregation? This is something the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) cannot bring about, because if the one who has prayed is commanded to repeat the prayer in order to plan for the congregation for this latecomer, then the one who entered with him is even more entitled to be commanded to pray in congregation. As for what they mentioned regarding 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, there are two narrations from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding this: one narration mentioned by Ibn Abi Shaybah that he established the congregation when he entered and found that they had prayed, and a second narration that he left and did not pray. His leaving and not praying is a matter of defect. It is possible that he (may Allah be pleased with him) feared that the imam would be accused, and it would be said, "Ibn Mas'ud entered and prayed with one group and left the first imam," which would be a deficiency for the imam and something to his reputation. It is also possible that Ibn Mas'ud went out and prayed in his home out of fear that people would take Ibn Mas'ud's action as a pretext for being lax in attending the first congregation. This is also a matter of defect that does not provide a general ruling.
Then we say: even if it were assumed that Ibn Mas'ud explicitly stated that it is not established, that would be the opinion of a Companion that contradicts what the Sunnah requires. It is obligatory to follow what the Sunnah indicates.