A man entered the mosque intending to pray Maghrib, and lo, he found the imam praying 'Isha' because he was combining the prayers due to rain.

The questioner : ... He prayed Maghrib, then he prayed 'Isha'. The imam prayed 'Isha' by combining the prayers due to rain. They found... Maghrib without having prayed, so they found the imam praying 'Isha' combined due to rain. Is it permissible for them to join the imam with the intention of Maghrib, knowing that the imam was praying 'Isha'?

The Shaykh : It is permissible.

The questioner : ... The imam is praying four, and they want the three rak'ahs of Maghrib, and the imam is praying?

The Shaykh : ... Here the issue differs between catching the imam at the beginning of the prayer.

The questioner : Yes, from the beginning of the prayer.

The Shaykh : If one catches the imam at the beginning of the prayer?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Or if they catch him later. If the situation is that they caught the imam at the beginning of the prayer, then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, they want to separate, and they sit in the third rak'ah.

The questioner : They differ...

The Shaykh : ... the second, yes; meaning here the prayer becomes four rak'ahs, and it is not permissible to add to Maghrib, so there is a necessity to differ. If they missed a rak'ah, then at that time he prays with him.

The questioner : He says the taslim with him. May Allah reward you with good.
... ...

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : In the first scenario, he prays...