If a group enters the mosque after the imam has combined the prayer for a reason, may they establish another congregation and combine the prayer?

The questioner : In the case of a group entering after the completion of the combined prayer, is it permissible for them to combine?

The Shaykh : No. First, this issue, or this answer, is based on a matter that occurs constantly in every situation, including normal circumstances, which is establishing a second or third congregation in the mosques. These congregations are not prescribed. As soon as the official imam appointed by the state to lead the people finishes, the congregation is over. So there is no second congregation in the sense that if you enter the mosque and intend to pray with this group for some reason, and the imam says the closing salam, you do not look around here and there to gather one or two people to pray with you as a congregation. No. You must pray alone. It is not permissible to establish a second or third congregation in a mosque that has a permanent imam and a permanent muezzin who gathers people at the time of prayer. Based on this, the answer you heard is that it is not permissible, even if they did not combine; they need to pray the prayer of that time, but a second congregation is not permissible. Therefore, it is even more impermissible for them to pray two prayers combined in that mosque where the two congregations were established.

The questioner : Even if a group from two groups caught up with the 'Asr prayer, we intended to pray Dhuhr while they were praying 'Asr. In this case, do we pray 'Asr combined?

The Shaykh : No. This is a second question. Here, you can pray 'Asr after you have prayed Dhuhr with the congregation.

The questioner : As a congregation or individually?

The Shaykh : You say you caught up with the 'Asr prayer. You caught up with the prayer while the imam was praying 'Asr, and you had not prayed Dhuhr because you arrived late. When you entered the mosque, the imam was praying 'Asr combined by advancing it, is that not so?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : You need to pray Dhuhr, of course. But the imam says the salam and you say it with him. He has finished his 'Asr prayer, and you have finished your Dhuhr prayer. So now you can combine.

The questioner : Do you combine individually or with a congregation?

The Shaykh : No, there is no second congregation. There is no second congregation; everyone prays for themselves. Because the wisdom in the matter is the multiplication of imams. That is, there are not two imams in a mosque that has a permanent imam and a permanent muezzin. You pray for yourself, as we said earlier. If you enter on normal days and find that the imam has prayed Dhuhr, you need to pray Dhuhr for yourself. Or any prayer from the remaining five prayers.

The questioner : Our Shaykh, regarding this point, I asked you this question on some tapes. This is recorded. You answered me twice. Once you answered the brother that he should pray 'Asr combined alone. I asked you a second time and you told me he does not pray because his prayer ended with the imam. He prays when the original time enters because he does not benefit from their dispensation. And when the adhan is called for the 'Asr prayer, he is present and prays with them because the mosque will be full of people who did not combine and did not obtain a dispensation, so he prays the prayer with them. So I told you at that time, "Okay, is this second prayer considered a primary congregation or not?" You said it is considered primary because it came at the appropriate time for him.
Al-Albani: Do you have the tape with this on it?

The questioner : By Allah, it has been a year and a half. We were discussing this at Abu 'Asim's place.

The Shaykh : No problem, meaning do you have it so we can review it? My opinion is as I said.

The questioner : Good. Good.