A follower who joined the Fajr prayer with a congregation that began praying before the true dawn had appeared

The questioner : An imam entered the prayer, specifically the Fajr prayer, meaning the true dawn had not yet appeared. A follower, after he prolonged the recitation, after he verified the rising of the dawn, joined the imam; does the congregational prayer become valid?

The Shaykh : It does not become valid; because the criterion is the opening of the prayer; due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): , but I advise the one who is afflicted with an imam from these imams who call to prayer based on astronomical timing and not the Shari'ah timing; so in order to preserve the form of the congregation, we say: pray with them, then return to your house and pray with your family after the true dawn has risen. As for if the dawn rises in the middle of the prayer or in the second rak'ah; what is built upon a defective foundation is defective, this is not sufficient. But he enters the prayer with the imam's takbir and it is recorded for him as a voluntary prayer, and he returns to his house and prays after the true dawn is clarified.
This is the answer.

The questioner : What is the evidence for that?

The Shaykh: Regarding what?

The questioner : That he must catch up with the congregation, and immediately return to his house and go pray as the first time.

The Shaykh : Ah, well done.
As for praying in the house a second time, I think there is no need for evidence? Or is there a need for evidence?

The questioner : After the prayer; no prayer...

The Shaykh : I am asking you, so that you save me and yourself some time. I think he repeats the prayer in his house after the time, after the time is clarified; this does not need evidence.

The questioner : It is permissible...

Another questioner : He has not prayed yet!

The Shaykh : Be patient, everyone.

The questioner : The first prayer is...

The Shaykh : Be patient, the man is asking, and it is upon us to answer.
I am asking you a question for the second time and this is the third time, and you are stingy with the answer!

The questioner : No, my master, may your eyes be honored.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good, but was this before this?! [Everyone laughs!]
You, in my opinion, do not need evidence for this matter. This person who prayed the Fajr prayer before the time should repeat it in the time. I am asking you, and you tell me: No, I need it. No, I do not need it. I repeat, I say: You do not need to know the evidence for the validity of the matter of repeating the prayer for those who prayed it before the time. Do you need it or do you not need it?

The questioner : Done. Since the true dawn has risen, he must pray in the time.

The Shaykh : So you do not need it, correct?
Ha, now you have saved me, see how?

The questioner : Since the true time has entered, it is finished, meaning.

The Shaykh : Okay, and what are we talking about?

The questioner : But if so, why would he go and burden himself to go to the mosque...?

The Shaykh : Okay, and what are we talking about?
You, then, want to ask - may Allah guide you - the evidence for the first question, the first part of the speech.
You see, you must tell me: I understood why you are ordering him to repeat the prayer? Because ultimately you clarified and saved me the explanation. But why did you order him to pray with the congregation that is praying before the time? What is the evidence? This is what you must ask me about; is that so?

The questioner : It is... possible according to your opinion... to pray...

The Shaykh : What do you want in my opinion, may Allah guide you?! What do you want in my opinion, you?
Are you asking my opinion or the Shari'ah?

The questioner : I mean, why is the hardship on the Muslim, he just calls to prayer, I... that we pray, he just calls to prayer, then in a quarter of an hour we pray the sunnah at home and go to the congregation, meaning, you know... the congregation, we all want to pray, I do not return to the house and pray again; because I know that after the obligatory prayer, prayer is disliked until the sun rises...

The Shaykh : Be patient a little, may Allah be pleased with you, be patient. I see, I am more impatient than you, ha, but you must be patient.
Now, you are with us that the picture we are presenting, I do not mean to restrict you, the picture is that an imam prayed before the time, or more clearly: he always prays before the time of the true dawn as an imam.

Another questioner : Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar [he calls to prayer]

The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.
Did you see a fresh one, by Allah.
An imam prays before the time; is his prayer valid?

The questioner : Of course, his prayer is valid.

The Shaykh: All right.

The questioner : But it is known that this imam prayed before the time...

The Shaykh: How?

The questioner : What informed us that this imam prayed before the time or after the time?

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, this research... has been going on for an hour. The first research we had, what did we inform? We informed our view of the true dawn, and we informed that they are entering the congregation and the night is dark.

Another questioner : [He continues the adhan]

The Shaykh : Now, do not put a stick in the wheel.

The questioner : No, but I want to shorten the conversation for you, meaning, because.

The Shaykh : There is no shame.

The questioner : The scholars, the scholars, when they went out and observed the light, meaning they swore an oath, and they wrote a book, and they published it to the entire Muslim community, and they swore an oath that this time is correct.

The Shaykh : Not correct!

The questioner : And the Ministry of Awqaf issued the book, so we were confused, we respond to the congregation and leave the... what is it called? This is what he wants, I mean a path from Allah and then His Messenger... this is all my concern in this world is that I go out.

The Shaykh : We said, guide you, this hour:
Sa'd brought it, and Sa'd was wrapped up *** This is not - O Sa'd - how you lead the camels
You want the path of the Messenger, I pledge with you, tomorrow morning, come to your house, I will take you at some time of the Fajr adhan, I will put you in my house.

Another questioner : Now he is calling to prayer.

The Shaykh: Huh?

Another questioner : Now he is calling to the... they established the prayer.

The Shaykh : No, here, no no, I meant that he should see the dawn himself.

Another questioner : ... Fajr.

The Shaykh : He sees the dawn.

Another questioner : Because they are not accustomed to observing!

The Shaykh : See? You see the dawn with your own eyes, you see the darkness with your own eyes and the mu'adhdhins are calling to prayer; I tell you: Look; do you see any light? You tell me: No, you tell me: No, do you see, do you see? In half an hour I will repeat... Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, in half an hour I will tell you: Do you see, do you see, do you see, do you see? So that you say: By Allah, I saw a little! Yes, this little is not the dawn; because he tells you: What is the meaning of clarification? The intensity of clarity and appearance.
And Ibn Abbas - may Allah be pleased with him - what does he say? He said: When does the clarification occur? He said: When two are observing the dawn, one says: The dawn has been clarified, and the other says: No; go with the one who says: No. Even the one who says: No; stands up and agrees with the second, see how? At that time you will see the difference...