If a latecomer enters the mosque and finds that the people have already prayed, does he say the first takbir or does he establish the prayer upon entering the mosque?

The questioner : ... One of us enters the mosque at the time of prayer, and the people have already prayed in congregation and left the mosque. Does he say the first takbir or does he establish the prayer upon entering the mosque? I hope for your guidance.

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. And I thank Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) for this great blessing, where the voice of this pulpit resounds in the corners of the inhabited earth.

The questioner : Praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : As we see, and praise be to Allah, messages come to us from here and there. This is from the favor of Allah upon those who undertake this work, upon this work itself, and upon the listeners to this pulpit.
This question that came from our brother from the people of Yemen regarding the congregation: they enter the mosque and the first congregation has ended, so what do they do? We say: They should establish the prayer and then pray in congregation, and there is no blame on them for that. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was one day sitting with his Companions when a man entered the mosque, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: So one of the Companions stood up and prayed with him, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) approved the congregation in this mosque after the first congregation. However, it is not recommended to make this a regular practice (sunnah) without an excuse, such that two imams are appointed in one mosque, one who prays at the beginning of the time and the other who prays at the end of the time. For this is from religious innovations (bid'ah). And here we should know the difference between regular matters that are taken as a sunnah and incidental matters that are not taken as a sunnah. It may be permissible in incidental matters what is not permissible in regular, permanent matters. Do you not see that there is nothing wrong with the congregation in the night prayer sometimes, but it is not made a regular practice? Meaning, a person can pray the night prayer in congregation with his companions, but he does not make this a regular practice. Some of the Companions prayed the night prayer in congregation with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas prayed with him, 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud prayed with him, and Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman prayed with him. But it was not his way (peace and blessings be upon him) to pray the night prayer in congregation constantly. So he distinguishes between the incidental situation and the regular, permanent situation.
But do these people who entered after the first congregation ended also call the adhan, as they establish the prayer, or is the first adhan sufficient for them? The answer is: If they are in the town, the first adhan is sufficient for them because they heard it or are in the position of one who hears it. But if they were not in the town at the time of the adhan, like a group of travelers who entered the time while they were in the desert, then they continued their journey until they reached the town, then here they call the adhan and establish the prayer. But they do not call the adhan with a loud voice so as not to disturb the people, and because there is no need to raise the voice in this situation, since the adhan will be for people who are present.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : They hear it without raising the voice. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener, Abu 'Abd al-'Aziz, says in this question.