A man who is late for the Maghrib prayer and enters the mosque to find the imam has already started the Isha' prayer: what should he do?
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The questioner : A man is late for the Maghrib prayer and enters the mosque while the imam has already started the Isha' prayer. He is in a state of combining Maghrib and Isha', having not prayed Maghrib, and enters the mosque to find the imam has started Isha'. How should the worshipper intend the Maghrib prayer? Does he continue with the imam or leave?
The Shaykh : Does he continue or does he join in?
The questioner : He missed the Maghrib prayer and found the imam had already prayed Maghrib and started Isha'.
The Shaykh : So he must join behind the imam; he does not continue. He wants to join behind the imam. Does he pray Isha' or does he pray Maghrib?
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : 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 follows the imam who is still praying the Isha' prayer, intending the Isha' prayer for himself, whether he catches up before or after the ruku'. The important thing is that he joins behind the imam for the Isha' prayer specifically for himself, after having prayed the Maghrib prayer with him.
The questioner : So he separates from him after the third rak'ah?
The Shaykh : He intends to separate. Yes.
The Shaykh : Does he continue or does he join in?
The questioner : He missed the Maghrib prayer and found the imam had already prayed Maghrib and started Isha'.
The Shaykh : So he must join behind the imam; he does not continue. He wants to join behind the imam. Does he pray Isha' or does he pray Maghrib?
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : 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 follows the imam who is still praying the Isha' prayer, intending the Isha' prayer for himself, whether he catches up before or after the ruku'. The important thing is that he joins behind the imam for the Isha' prayer specifically for himself, after having prayed the Maghrib prayer with him.
The questioner : So he separates from him after the third rak'ah?
The Shaykh : He intends to separate. Yes.