Is it permissible to do what Mu'adh did, by praying with the imam and then returning to lead his people?
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The questioner : Who do you consider the best imam, O Shaykh, in the present time? Who do you consider it best to pray with as an imam, if he is the imam of a neighborhood mosque other than this one? Is it best for him to pray with the imam and then go pray a voluntary prayer in his neighborhood?
The Shaykh : No, no, this is actually a source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), unless there is a reason, such as knowledge. For example, if the imam of this mosque teaches people, then he attends, learns, and prays with the imam, and then goes to his people; in that case, there is nothing wrong with it. But if it is merely because so-and-so is the son of so-and-so, then harm results from it. One of the greatest harms is that the imam with whom he was praying becomes confused, and then when he finishes, he goes to his people and prays with them.
The Shaykh : No, no, this is actually a source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), unless there is a reason, such as knowledge. For example, if the imam of this mosque teaches people, then he attends, learns, and prays with the imam, and then goes to his people; in that case, there is nothing wrong with it. But if it is merely because so-and-so is the son of so-and-so, then harm results from it. One of the greatest harms is that the imam with whom he was praying becomes confused, and then when he finishes, he goes to his people and prays with them.