If a person is coming from a journey and has delayed his prayer to combine it with the one following it as a delayed combination, and he arrives in the city during the time of the prayer that follows
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The questioner : If a person is coming from a journey, and has delayed a prayer to combine it with the one following it as a delayed combination, and he arrives in the city during the time of the prayer that follows, and the congregation is praying that prayer, such as one who delayed Maghrib to pray it with 'Isha, and he arrives in the city while its people are praying the 'Isha prayer, does he join them for the 'Isha prayer, or does he pray Maghrib before it?
The Shaykh : He joins them with the intention of the Maghrib prayer, as I said. In this case, if he entered with the imam in the second rak'ah or any subsequent one, the matter is clear. If he entered with the imam in the second rak'ah, he says the taslim with him, because he would have prayed three rak'ahs. If he entered in the third rak'ah, he adds one rak'ah after it. However, if he entered in the first rak'ah of the 'Isha prayer while he is praying with the intention of Maghrib, then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he sits, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. Then he joins the imam in the remainder of the 'Isha prayer until he catches up with both congregations in the prayer.
The questioner : Does he separate from his imam?
The Shaykh : Yes, he separates from his imam and says the taslim. This separation is permissible because it is for an excuse, and separation for an excuse is permissible, as the scholars have mentioned. Among the examples of separation for an excuse is if something happens to a person during the prayer that requires him to hasten through the prayer. In that case, he may separate from the imam and complete his prayer quickly, then go attend to that matter. For example, if he experiences pain in his stomach, or feels an urgent need to urinate or defecate, or if he has severe nausea in his stomach and fears he will vomit during his prayer, or something similar. The important point is that separating from the imam for an excuse is permissible, and this is a separation for an excuse. Then, there is no blame on you in this situation if you come while they are in the 'Isha prayer to join them with the intention of the 'Isha prayer, and then you pray Maghrib afterwards, as we indicated a moment ago, that some of the scholars hold that the order is dropped due to the fear of missing the congregational prayer.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : He joins them with the intention of the Maghrib prayer, as I said. In this case, if he entered with the imam in the second rak'ah or any subsequent one, the matter is clear. If he entered with the imam in the second rak'ah, he says the taslim with him, because he would have prayed three rak'ahs. If he entered in the third rak'ah, he adds one rak'ah after it. However, if he entered in the first rak'ah of the 'Isha prayer while he is praying with the intention of Maghrib, then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he sits, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. Then he joins the imam in the remainder of the 'Isha prayer until he catches up with both congregations in the prayer.
The questioner : Does he separate from his imam?
The Shaykh : Yes, he separates from his imam and says the taslim. This separation is permissible because it is for an excuse, and separation for an excuse is permissible, as the scholars have mentioned. Among the examples of separation for an excuse is if something happens to a person during the prayer that requires him to hasten through the prayer. In that case, he may separate from the imam and complete his prayer quickly, then go attend to that matter. For example, if he experiences pain in his stomach, or feels an urgent need to urinate or defecate, or if he has severe nausea in his stomach and fears he will vomit during his prayer, or something similar. The important point is that separating from the imam for an excuse is permissible, and this is a separation for an excuse. Then, there is no blame on you in this situation if you come while they are in the 'Isha prayer to join them with the intention of the 'Isha prayer, and then you pray Maghrib afterwards, as we indicated a moment ago, that some of the scholars hold that the order is dropped due to the fear of missing the congregational prayer.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.