What is the ruling on prayer if one intends an obligatory or voluntary prayer, and in the middle of the prayer another person arrives and intends to pray behind him? Does the imam’s prayer become a congregational prayer?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on prayer if a person intends to pray an obligatory or voluntary prayer, and in the middle of the prayer another person arrives and intends to pray behind him? Does the imam’s prayer become a congregational prayer? We ask for your guidance on this.
The Shaykh : First, we say that some scholars hold that if a person enters prayer alone and then another person comes after him and joins him so that the first becomes the imam of the second, that is not valid, because the intention of leading the prayer must be present from the beginning of the prayer, except for one who enters alone knowing that his companion will catch up with him and pray with him.
And some scholars hold that there is no harm in a person entering prayer alone, and if someone is present with him, he prays with him as a congregation.
Second, we say that if a person enters an obligatory or voluntary prayer alone, and this voluntary prayer is one for which congregation is prescribed, and a person comes and joins him, then that falls under the category of what is permissible and there is no harm in it. Indeed, we say that it may be recommended, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:330.
And as for the sayingThe questioner : Does he catch up with the virtue of the congregation?
So we say: if he catches up with them in one rak'ah of the prayer or more, he has obtained the congregation. And if he does not catch up with them except in the last rak'ah after they have risen from bowing, then the reward of the congregation is not obtained, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Muwatta Malik 1:15.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : First, we say that some scholars hold that if a person enters prayer alone and then another person comes after him and joins him so that the first becomes the imam of the second, that is not valid, because the intention of leading the prayer must be present from the beginning of the prayer, except for one who enters alone knowing that his companion will catch up with him and pray with him.
And some scholars hold that there is no harm in a person entering prayer alone, and if someone is present with him, he prays with him as a congregation.
Second, we say that if a person enters an obligatory or voluntary prayer alone, and this voluntary prayer is one for which congregation is prescribed, and a person comes and joins him, then that falls under the category of what is permissible and there is no harm in it. Indeed, we say that it may be recommended, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
A man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah
صلاة الرجل مع الرجل أسلم من صلاته وحده، وصلاته مع الرجلين أزكى من صلاته مع الرجل، وما كان أكثر فهو أحب إلى اللهAnd as for the sayingThe questioner : Does he catch up with the virtue of the congregation?
So we say: if he catches up with them in one rak'ah of the prayer or more, he has obtained the congregation. And if he does not catch up with them except in the last rak'ah after they have risen from bowing, then the reward of the congregation is not obtained, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever catches a raka of the prayer has caught the prayer.
من أدرك ركعةً من الصلاة فقد أدرك الصلاةThe questioner : May Allah bless you.