If a man prays the midday and afternoon prayers alone, then goes to another place and finds the prayer being performed in congregation, is it obligatory for him to pray with them, or is he content with his previous prayer?

The questioner : If I have prayed the midday or afternoon prayer, or any obligatory prayer, alone, and then I go to another place immediately after the prayer and find the prayer being performed in congregation, is it obligatory for me to join the worshippers and pray with them, or am I content with my prayer alone?

The Shaykh : If you have prayed alone, you have cleared your conscience and the obligation has been lifted from you. However, it is not permissible for you to pray alone while you are able to pray in congregation, because congregational prayer is obligatory. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to burn the houses of those who lagged behind in it with fire. But if an excuse occurs on a day and you pray alone, then you go to the mosque of the congregation and find them praying, pray with them. That is not obligatory upon you; rather, it is a voluntary prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the two men who did not pray with him in the Musjid al-Khaif during the dawn prayer. He said to them (peace and blessings be upon him): .