The imam who arrives late for the Fajr prayer while the people are waiting for him: is it better for him to pray two rak'ahs or to order the iqamah for the obligatory prayer?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. May peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings, O honorable Shaykh:
An imam arrived late to the mosque for the Fajr prayer, and the congregation is waiting for the prayer. Is it better...
The Shaykh : Is it better...
The questioner : ...for him to order the iqamah for the prayer, or to pray the two rawatib and then perform the iqamah for the prayer?
The Shaykh : Is he the imam?
The questioner : He is the imam; he arrived late and the congregation is waiting for the prayer.
The Shaykh : And he has not prayed the rawatib of Fajr?
The questioner : He has not prayed the rawatib of Fajr. Is it better for him to pray the two rak'ahs, or to perform the iqamah for the prayer and then pray?
The Shaykh : If it is difficult for the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) if he prays two rak'ahs, then it is better for him to lead the people in prayer and then pray the two rak'ahs afterwards. And if it is not difficult—as is usually the case—then he prays the two rak'ahs.
The questioner : He prays the two rak'ahs first?
The Shaykh : First, and usually it is not difficult, because when the people see that he has arrived, the matter becomes easy for them.
The questioner : But you know, when the imam is late, you find the people looking around.
The Shaykh : Yes, they look around, but when he arrives, their hearts are at ease. So in any case, if he sees that this is difficult for them, he prays the rawatib after the prayer.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. May peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings, O honorable Shaykh:
An imam arrived late to the mosque for the Fajr prayer, and the congregation is waiting for the prayer. Is it better...
The Shaykh : Is it better...
The questioner : ...for him to order the iqamah for the prayer, or to pray the two rawatib and then perform the iqamah for the prayer?
The Shaykh : Is he the imam?
The questioner : He is the imam; he arrived late and the congregation is waiting for the prayer.
The Shaykh : And he has not prayed the rawatib of Fajr?
The questioner : He has not prayed the rawatib of Fajr. Is it better for him to pray the two rak'ahs, or to perform the iqamah for the prayer and then pray?
The Shaykh : If it is difficult for the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) if he prays two rak'ahs, then it is better for him to lead the people in prayer and then pray the two rak'ahs afterwards. And if it is not difficult—as is usually the case—then he prays the two rak'ahs.
The questioner : He prays the two rak'ahs first?
The Shaykh : First, and usually it is not difficult, because when the people see that he has arrived, the matter becomes easy for them.
The questioner : But you know, when the imam is late, you find the people looking around.
The Shaykh : Yes, they look around, but when he arrives, their hearts are at ease. So in any case, if he sees that this is difficult for them, he prays the rawatib after the prayer.