The hadith states: “Is there no man who would give charity to this man and pray with him?” Who is the one who acts as the imam: the man who prayed with the congregation, or the man who missed the congregation?

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner : Regarding the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): I am asking about the imamah: who acts as the imam, the man who prayed with the congregation, or the man who missed the congregation?

The Shaykh : The one who missed the congregation.

The questioner : The one who missed the congregation.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : What does it mean, I mean, the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): ?

The Shaykh : If we understand this meaning... that the imam is the one who missed the congregational prayer, because the occasion of this hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is: He prayed one day with his Companions, then a man entered and had missed the prayer behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he said to those who had prayed behind him: . He did not say: “so he prays what he prays with him”; he said: “he prays with him,” this is the first point.

The questioner : He is more knowledgeable in recitation and understanding than he is, and he gives him charity.

The Shaykh : This statement is transmitted.

The questioner : Is this prescribed, I mean, if we are in the mosque and we know a man who is consistent with the Fajr prayer, but he is late one day, for example, and the imam...

The Shaykh : Yes, this is prescribed for him, yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

Another questioner : Well, Shaykh, they use this as an argument for establishing a second congregation.

The Shaykh : This has no relation to the second congregation in several tapes.

The questioner : And if one other person follows him, Shaykh?

The Shaykh : No, no, just one.

The questioner : Just one only, meaning it is not permissible.