What is the evidence for the permissibility of the ma'mum (one praying behind the imam) intending a prayer different from the imam's intention?

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. I am the one who asked you a few days ago from Sharjah. I am the man who prayed 'Isha' with Maghrib while traveling.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : I told him this, but you did not mention the evidence to me. May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : Evidence for what, my brother?

The questioner : Evidence for the permissibility that one prays with the ma'mum (one praying behind the imam) with an intention that differs from the imam's intention.

The Shaykh : Do you not know the hadith of Jabir? The story of Mu'adh.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Okay, what does the hadith indicate?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : What does the hadith indicate?

The questioner : That differing intentions are permissible.

The Shaykh : So the answer is with you.

The questioner : But this means the ma'mum (one praying behind the imam) separated from the imam. By separating from the imam, he separated from the imam in the prayer.

The Shaykh : You did not mention this until now. Before, you said differing intention.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And I gave you the answer.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. I am asking about separating from the imam. Is it permissible to leave the imam and stand for the fourth rak'ah (unit of prayer)?

The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible. It is permissible, just as the one who followed Mu'adh did.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Do you know what he did?

The questioner : No, by Allah, I do not know.

The Shaykh : You do not memorize the story of Mu'adh.

The questioner : I do not know it.

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : I am telling you, do you not know the story of Mu'adh and the man?

The questioner : I know it.

The Shaykh : Then how did you know that differing intention does not harm?

The questioner : I know that differing intention is not permissible, but the hadith of Jabir confirms the permissibility of this. But separating from the imam, is this permissible or not? I do not know, by Allah.

The Shaykh : My brother, may Allah guide you. In the story of Mu'adh, an Ansari man, a companion of clear character, who worked during the day, followed behind Mu'adh in the 'Isha' prayer. So when Mu'adh began Surat al-Baqarah, he intended to separate.

The questioner : Yes, I know this, O Shaykh. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah guide you.

The questioner : It indicates the permissibility of separating.

The Shaykh : And I am asking you about this which you know.

The questioner : I did not know this. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Okay, if it is permissible for this man to intend to separate while the prayer is like the imam's prayer, four rak'ahs (units of prayer), is it not permissible to intend to separate for one whose prayer is three rak'ahs (units of prayer)?

The questioner : He intends. Yes.

The Shaykh : Perhaps you have understood.

The questioner : This is separating, and this is separating.

The Shaykh : Did you understand the evidence?

The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And beware of that.

The questioner : Okay, I have a simple question. No harm in taking a little of your time.

The Shaykh : No, there is nothing on him. It is finished.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : I told you, one question so you do not tire me.

The questioner : This is not it. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And beware of that.

The questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.