What is the ruling on establishing a second congregational prayer in the mosque, specifically in the two Sacred Mosques?

The questioner : May Allah reward you. A questioner asks: Is it permissible to establish a second congregational prayer after the imam has finished the first congregation, especially in the two Sacred Mosques?

The Shaykh : This is a matter that, well, there is no harm in addressing it with some detail. We say that as for the mosques located on roads or main thoroughfares, there is no harm in people establishing multiple congregations there, because travelers come, pray, and move on, and others come, pray, and move on. This is permissible by consensus. Second: if the second congregation is repeated on a permanent basis, meaning that this mosque always has two congregations, a first and a second, then this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). There are not to be two congregations in one mosque. So, the first congregation in road mosques is permissible, and no scholar says that it is disliked (makruh) for other travelers to pray the second congregation. Second: if it becomes customary to establish two congregations in one mosque, then this is a religious innovation (bid'ah), and the second congregation is prohibited. Third: if the establishment of two congregations is for a temporary reason, such as a group entering after the people have already prayed in this mosque, we tell them that the recommended practice (sunnah) is to pray in congregation. The recommended practice (sunnah) is to pray in congregation. The evidence for this is two hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for the first hadith: This is a repetition of the congregation after the first congregation. The second piece of evidence is the hadith of Abu ibn Ka'b: Yes.