Is it permissible for the deputy imam to combine the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers with the congregation, for example, even if he knows that the imam will arrive for the 'Isha' prayer?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Regarding the combination, if the regular imam of the mosque is not present, meaning his deputy or whoever is acting in his place, it is permissible for him to combine the prayers with the people, even if the imam is going to come for the 'Isha' prayer, or for example...
The Shaykh : The imam, in any case, has to come for the 'Isha' prayer; he must be present even if he has combined the prayers with the people, because some people arrive late.
The questioner : I mean, is it permissible for the deputy imam to pray and combine?
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner:....
The Shaykh : What do you mean by the time?
The questioner : ... for dire necessity.
The Shaykh: Of course.
The questioner : Okay, regarding the imam's prayer, if he has combined, does he pray the 'Isha' prayer with the people again? Is this obligatory?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for the imam due to his duty, not his worship; it is his duty.
The Shaykh : The imam, in any case, has to come for the 'Isha' prayer; he must be present even if he has combined the prayers with the people, because some people arrive late.
The questioner : I mean, is it permissible for the deputy imam to pray and combine?
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner:....
The Shaykh : What do you mean by the time?
The questioner : ... for dire necessity.
The Shaykh: Of course.
The questioner : Okay, regarding the imam's prayer, if he has combined, does he pray the 'Isha' prayer with the people again? Is this obligatory?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for the imam due to his duty, not his worship; it is his duty.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.