What is the ruling on a traveler leading a congregation of residents?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : This questioner says: If a traveler prays with a group of residents and concludes the prayer after two rak'ahs in a four-rak'ah prayer, does one of the followers step forward to complete the prayer with them, or how is the matter handled?
The Shaykh : The scenario of this issue is that a traveling imam steps forward to lead a group of residents. We say to the traveler: Pray two rak'ahs. When he concludes the prayer, those behind him stand up and complete the prayer for themselves. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Year of the Conquest used to pray with the people of Makkah and said: while he was praying only two rak'ahs. This hadith is authentic, and there is no weight to those who criticized it, because many of the imams authenticated it. It is not permissible for one person to step forward to complete the prayer for them; rather, each person completes the prayer for himself. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The scenario of this issue is that a traveling imam steps forward to lead a group of residents. We say to the traveler: Pray two rak'ahs. When he concludes the prayer, those behind him stand up and complete the prayer for themselves. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Year of the Conquest used to pray with the people of Makkah and said:
Complete the prayer, O people of Makkah, for we are a traveling people.
أتموا يا أهل مكة فإنا قوم سفرThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.