Is it permissible for one who has performed the obligatory prayer to pray with someone who arrived late and is praying alone, so that he may receive the reward of the congregation? And is this permissible in all five obligatory prayers?

The questioner : Is it permissible for one who has performed the obligatory prayer to give charity to someone who arrived late and is praying alone, so that he prays with him and receives the reward of the congregation? And is this permissible in all five obligatory prayers?

The Shaykh : Yes, if a person enters and has missed the prayer, it is recommended for those in the mosque that one of them stand up, give charity to him, and pray with him so that he may attain the virtue of the congregation. This is because a man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting with his companions, and the man did not catch the congregational prayer. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then one of the people stood up and prayed with him. Similarly, if two men or more enter and have missed the congregational prayer, they pray as a congregation. In this case, there is no need for someone to stand up with them and give charity to them. There is no difference between the five prayers in this matter; even if the prayer is the 'Asr prayer, and someone stands up to give charity to him and pray with him, there is no harm in that. This is because this voluntary prayer is a voluntary prayer with a cause, and all voluntary prayers with a cause are permissible for a person to perform in the times of prohibition. The prohibition mentioned regarding the five prayers in the known times is from the Fajr prayer until the sun has risen the length of a spear, and when it is standing until it passes its zenith, and from the 'Asr prayer until it sets. In these times, one is prohibited from performing absolute voluntary prayers that have no cause, such as if someone stands up and prays voluntarily in these times; we say that this is not permissible. However, what has a cause is performed in these times, just as if a person enters the mosque after the Fajr prayer or after the 'Asr prayer, he does not sit until he prays two rak'ahs. And just as if he circumambulates the House after Fajr or after the 'Asr prayer, he prays the two rak'ahs of tawaf. And just as if the sun is eclipsed after the 'Asr prayer, the eclipse prayer is performed, and so on of the voluntary prayers that have a cause. It is worth noting that some scholars held that the eclipse prayer is obligatory. The important point is that there is no difference between the prayers in that someone may stand up and give charity to this person who entered and missed the congregational prayer.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.