Ruling on the Imam Preventing a Second Congregation After the First Congregation
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Your Eminence! Does the imam have the right to prevent the second congregation after the first congregation?
It is not permissible for the imam to prevent a second congregation after the first congregation. If he does so, I fear that this constitutes opposing the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family); because the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is to establish a second congregation after the first if there is an excuse,Meaning: such as when the latecomers did not intend to establish a second congregation, but they entered and found that the congregation had already prayed, so they pray in congregation. This is the Sunnah. A man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was with his companions, and he said: “Is there no man who would stand and pray for this man?” So a man stood up and prayed with him. This is establishing a congregation after a congregation.Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The prayer of a man with another man is purer than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one man, and the more there are, the more beloved it is to Allah.” So what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) described as purer, do we forbid it or prevent it? Therefore, this man should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and not prevent the Muslims from what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, recommended, and encouraged. However, if this is made a custom, such that this imam prays in this mosque, and then when the imam finishes, a second imam comes and prays; then this is a religious innovation without doubt. The first imam does not forbid it; rather, those responsible for managing endowments or mosque affairs are the ones who forbid it.
It is not permissible for the imam to prevent a second congregation after the first congregation. If he does so, I fear that this constitutes opposing the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family); because the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is to establish a second congregation after the first if there is an excuse,Meaning: such as when the latecomers did not intend to establish a second congregation, but they entered and found that the congregation had already prayed, so they pray in congregation. This is the Sunnah. A man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was with his companions, and he said: “Is there no man who would stand and pray for this man?” So a man stood up and prayed with him. This is establishing a congregation after a congregation.Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The prayer of a man with another man is purer than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one man, and the more there are, the more beloved it is to Allah.” So what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) described as purer, do we forbid it or prevent it? Therefore, this man should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and not prevent the Muslims from what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, recommended, and encouraged. However, if this is made a custom, such that this imam prays in this mosque, and then when the imam finishes, a second imam comes and prays; then this is a religious innovation without doubt. The first imam does not forbid it; rather, those responsible for managing endowments or mosque affairs are the ones who forbid it.