A man entered the mosque and found that the imam had prayed Maghrib and had begun the 'Isha' prayer, so what should be done?

The questioner : A man was late for the Maghrib prayer and entered the mosque to find that the imam had begun the 'Isha' prayer, or in the case of combining Maghrib and 'Isha', he had not prayed Maghrib and entered the mosque to find that the imam had begun the 'Isha' prayer. How does the worshipper complete the Maghrib prayer? Does he continue with the imam or does he leave?

The Shaykh : Does he continue, or does he join in?

The questioner : He began the 'Isha' prayer, and he missed the Maghrib prayer, and he found that the imam had prayed Maghrib and begun the 'Isha' prayer?

The Shaykh : If he wants to join behind the imam, he does not continue; he wants to join behind the imam. So, does he pray 'Isha' or does he pray Maghrib? Yes. The answer is that in this case, he follows the imam who is praying the obligatory 'Isha' prayer, but he intends the obligatory Maghrib prayer, out of regard for the order between the two prayers. However, when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he intends to separate, sits at the beginning of the third rak'ah, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. Then he stands up and joins behind the imam who is still praying the 'Isha' prayer, and he intends the 'Isha' prayer, whether he catches up before the ruku' or after the ruku'. The important thing is that he joins in and prays the 'Isha' prayer specific to him behind the imam, after having prayed the Maghrib prayer with him. Yes.

The questioner : Meaning, he separates from him after the taslim.

The Shaykh : Yes, he intends to separate.