The Ruling on Changing the Intention in Prayer
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When the people gathered one night, one of them prayed Maghrib with the imam, thinking that he had prayed three rak'ahs of Maghrib, even though he was in doubt that he had only prayed two rak'ahs. Then, when the imam said the taslim for Maghrib, he said the taslim with him. When the iqamah was weak and the imam stood up for the first rak'ah of 'Isha', this worshipper thought that he was standing to bow for the third rak'ah of Maghrib and that the people had alerted him, so he prayed behind him considering it to be part of Maghrib. When he heard the recitation of al-Fatihah, it became clear to him that it was 'Isha, so did he complete the prayer with them?The Shaykh: That is: he intended 'Isha after hearing the imam recite al-Fatihah, and left the intention of Maghrib? So this man did not say the taslim with the imam in the prayer of Maghrib, is that not so, or did he say it?The questioner: Rather, he said the taslim.
The Shaykh: How can he say the taslim while he believes that he has only prayed two rak'ahs?The questioner: He was in doubt.
The Shaykh: But when the imam said the taslim, did he think it was likely that the prayer was complete?The questioner: When the imam said the taslim and stood up to combine, he thought that the people had alerted him; because the mu'adhdhin's iqamah was weak, and he thought that he had stood up to perform the third rak'ah of Maghrib.
The Shaykh: In any case, the prayer of 'Isha is not valid in his case; because he did not say the takbirat al-ihram, but rather he stood up intending to complete Maghrib. Then, when he heard the imam reciting, he knew that it was 'Isha and continued considering it to be 'Isha without saying the takbir for ihram. If he had said the takbir for ihram for the prayer of 'Isha, his prayer would have been valid.
As for the prayer of Maghrib, his prayer is valid; because it became clear that he was mistaken, and that the prayer was complete. So in any case, he must repeat the prayer of 'Isha.
The Shaykh: How can he say the taslim while he believes that he has only prayed two rak'ahs?The questioner: He was in doubt.
The Shaykh: But when the imam said the taslim, did he think it was likely that the prayer was complete?The questioner: When the imam said the taslim and stood up to combine, he thought that the people had alerted him; because the mu'adhdhin's iqamah was weak, and he thought that he had stood up to perform the third rak'ah of Maghrib.
The Shaykh: In any case, the prayer of 'Isha is not valid in his case; because he did not say the takbirat al-ihram, but rather he stood up intending to complete Maghrib. Then, when he heard the imam reciting, he knew that it was 'Isha and continued considering it to be 'Isha without saying the takbir for ihram. If he had said the takbir for ihram for the prayer of 'Isha, his prayer would have been valid.
As for the prayer of Maghrib, his prayer is valid; because it became clear that he was mistaken, and that the prayer was complete. So in any case, he must repeat the prayer of 'Isha.