In Ramadan, we find some of the worshippers praying the obligatory 'Isha' prayer behind the imam who is praying the two rak'ahs of tarawih; is this practice superior or inferior?

The questioner : In Ramadan, we find some of the worshippers praying the obligatory 'Isha' prayer behind the imam who is praying the two rak'ahs of tarawih; is this practice superior or inferior? And what is the evidence for that?

The Shaykh : This practice is superior; because either he prays the obligatory prayer alone and leaves the congregation to itself; and this is a splitting from the congregation of the Muslims, and this is not permissible due to many pieces of evidence; or he joins this congregation, and when the imam concludes the prayer after two rak'ahs, he stands up and completes his prayer; just as if he were one who joined the prayer late in the 'Isha' prayer and caught two rak'ahs of it, he would perform the two remaining rak'ahs that are obligatory upon him; and it is not said: this is a voluntary prayer and that is an obligatory one; because the answer is well-known that Mu'adh ibn Jabal used to pray the obligatory 'Isha' prayer behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then he would go to his people and pray as their imam, which was a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory one for them; so it is permissible for one who is obligated to pray to follow one who is praying a voluntary prayer; therefore this practice is permissible, and indeed it is among the virtues.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.