If the imam combines the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers, and some people remain in the mosque to attend a lesson, is it obligatory for them to pray with those who are praying 'Isha' when its time arrives?

The questioner : In the case of combining prayers, my Shaykh, we combine Maghrib and 'Isha', for example, and we stay in the mosque for a lesson or something else. The adhan for 'Isha' comes while we are in the mosque. In reality, some people leave the mosque, saying, "We have already prayed 'Isha' by combining," and they go to their homes. I do not know; it seems to my ears that you make it obligatory for him to pray, or something like that, that he must pray as long as he remains in the mosque.

The Shaykh : Pray what?

The questioner : 'Isha' with the imam who will lead the people who did not combine.

The Shaykh : You mean the one who combines Maghrib and 'Isha'.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And some of them pray Maghrib and then leave.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Is that so?

The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : ... .

The questioner : Everyone, my Shaykh, prays Maghrib and 'Isha' combined in advance.

The Shaykh: No problem, my brother.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : I want to repeat to you what I heard.

The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Some of them leave and do not pray 'Isha'.

The questioner : No, my Shaykh, everyone prays 'Isha'.

The Shaykh : They combine Maghrib and 'Isha'.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So what is the question?

The questioner : The question is that some of them stay in the mosque.

The Shaykh : Why?

The questioner : For a lesson, or a lesson is happening now, let us say the reality.

The Shaykh: All right.

The questioner : The lesson extends to the adhan for 'Isha', and when the adhan for 'Isha' is called, they leave and do not pray.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : The question is that it seems I heard a report from you that you make it obligatory for the people who remained in the mosque and heard the call to prayer.

The Shaykh : This is for the one who did not pray, as for the one who prayed.

The questioner : He owes nothing.

The Shaykh : He owes nothing.

The questioner : Does this, my Shaykh, apply to him that there is no prayer .

The Shaykh : No, if he wants to pray voluntarily and prays with the imam, it does not apply to him, but the issue is that it is not obligatory for him if he is late.

The questioner : Yes, it is not obligatory for him, and he only prays voluntarily if he wants.

The questioner : My Shaykh, by the way, meaning... the question... the issue of a man who wanted to go to the mosque, he combined and heard the adhan, so he said, "I am free, so I will go and pray," and I said, "It is not prescribed for him to intend this, but if he is present."

The Shaykh : Intend what?

The questioner : Intend the prayer, he leaves the house intending the prayer even though he combined.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : So you said that this is not prescribed for him, but if he is present, it is prescribed for him to pray, indeed it is obligatory, and you mentioned the hadith of the two men who.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Ah, is there a difference between the two issues?

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : Is there a difference between this issue and this issue?

The Shaykh : This issue and this issue.

The questioner : Ah, ... meaning.

The Shaykh : He prayed it in the mosque with the congregation, this he prayed it in the same mosque with this congregation, and it is known to the congregation that is established for the 'Isha' prayer at its time that this person has fulfilled what Allah has made obligatory upon him, whereas the one who did not pray with this congregation and was present with them remains in a state of suspicion because he is turning away from the congregation, so this is the difference, whether in deficiency or understanding.

The questioner: Yes.