He was praying Maghrib alone quietly, then a worshipper joined him and prayed beside him without his initial knowledge, and it may have been more than one person. Does he recite aloud, knowing that he has already finished reciting al-Fatihah, or does he pray quietly?

The questioner : He says that he was praying Maghrib alone quietly, and I was alone, then a follower joined me and prayed beside me, and I did not know about it until I found that he was beside me. It may have been more than one person. Do I recite aloud in the prayer, knowing that I have passed al-Fatihah, or do I pray my prayer quietly? I ask the honorable Shaykh to answer regarding this.

The Shaykh : If a person begins his prayer alone and then another person or more joins him, there is no harm in his intending to lead them. If he intends to lead them, he does what the imam does. If they caught up with him in the first rak'ah of a prayer where recitation is aloud, he recites aloud. If they caught up with him in the second rak'ah, he also recites aloud. If they caught up with him in the third rak'ah, he does not recite aloud.
However, the scholars differed, may Allah have mercy on them, regarding whether it is valid for a person to begin his prayer alone and then have another person or more join him, whether he can intend to lead them or not.
The correct view is that it is permissible, and that if a person begins his prayer alone and then a person or more joins him, there is no harm in his intending to form a congregation with them.

The questioner : May Allah bless you, honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us in this week's session.