A latecomer entered the mosque without having prayed Maghrib and found them praying 'Isha'; what should he do?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : A man who combines the Maghrib and 'Isha prayers entered the mosque to pray, intending to pray Maghrib, but found the imam praying 'Isha. What is the method for catching up with the imam in this case? Do you have a well-known fatwa on this, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The most correct opinion in this matter is that he joins them with the intention of Maghrib, and then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah and he has already completed his prayer, he sits, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim.
The questioner : Well, this is well-known from you, O Shaykh, but does this not conflict with the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 1236 Does this conflict with the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family)?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner :Sahih al-Bukhari 1236 .
The Shaykh : Yes, I do.
The questioner : Well, does this not conflict with that?
The Shaykh : I say that what I mentioned to you, may Allah reward you, does not conflict with the hadith, because this person is following his imam, but he lagged behind him when he intended to separate to complete the tashahhud or to recite the tashahhud, and that was for a legitimate religious excuse, because his prayer is Maghrib and does not exceed three rak'ahs, do you understand? And one who lags behind the imam for a legitimate religious excuse is not considered a sinner or a wrongdoer.
Yes, the one after you, come up, and this one, come up, and the one after you.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : A man who combines the Maghrib and 'Isha prayers entered the mosque to pray, intending to pray Maghrib, but found the imam praying 'Isha. What is the method for catching up with the imam in this case? Do you have a well-known fatwa on this, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The most correct opinion in this matter is that he joins them with the intention of Maghrib, and then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah and he has already completed his prayer, he sits, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim.
The questioner : Well, this is well-known from you, O Shaykh, but does this not conflict with the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The Imam is to be followed. So, bow when he bows, and raise your head when he raises his head.
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم به فإذا ركع فاركعوا وإذا سجدوا فاسجدواThe Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner :
The Imam is to be followed
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم بهThe Shaykh : Yes, I do.
The questioner : Well, does this not conflict with that?
The Shaykh : I say that what I mentioned to you, may Allah reward you, does not conflict with the hadith, because this person is following his imam, but he lagged behind him when he intended to separate to complete the tashahhud or to recite the tashahhud, and that was for a legitimate religious excuse, because his prayer is Maghrib and does not exceed three rak'ahs, do you understand? And one who lags behind the imam for a legitimate religious excuse is not considered a sinner or a wrongdoer.
Yes, the one after you, come up, and this one, come up, and the one after you.