What is the ruling on establishing a second congregation in the mosque, and is there any report of this from the Salaf?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : This is also a repeated question: if we do not catch up with the congregational prayer behind the imam while we are a group, is it permissible for us to pray as a congregation or to pray separately? And did the Salaf do this?
The Shaykh : Yes. If we arrive as a group and the imam has already finished the prayer, we pray as a congregation. This is how the Sunnah came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One day, a man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was with his companions, and the man had missed the prayer. He said: This is establishing a second congregation by the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called him a "charity-giver" because he performed the obligatory act. When a person performs the obligatory act of worship, his performing it a second time becomes charity, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 219Sahih (Darussalam). Thus, the Sunnah indicates that if a person enters and finds that the imam has already prayed, he should pray as a congregation, either with one of the people of the mosque who have already prayed, or with the one who entered with him.
The Salaf are reported to have done both. It is reported that they prayed, and it is reported that they did not pray. However, the Sunnah distinguishes between the disputing parties. As for the reports that they did not pray, in reality, it is a specific case where it is possible that they did not pray because they feared that people would follow their example, as they were the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also possible that they did not pray for fear that people would harbor resentment toward the imam in their hearts, thinking that this Companion lagged behind because he disliked praying behind this imam, and thus they would dislike this imam. A third possibility is that they did not pray for one of the reasons, such as someone being occupied with dhikr or the Qur'an, and they feared to disturb them. The important point is that this is a specific case that allows for many reasons, but what the Sunnah brought is the deciding factor and the judgment among people. It must be followed without following anyone else. I am amazed at those who say that establishing a congregation is charity if the one who established it has already prayed, and then they say that a congregation should not be established if it is obligatory. If two people come, they do not pray as a congregation, but if one person comes and finds one who has already prayed, they pray as a congregation. How is this? If the person who has already prayed is commanded to pray with the one who entered, how is the one who entered not commanded to pray with the one who entered, since the prayer of each of them is an obligation? And if it is permissible to have multiple congregations in voluntary prayer, then having multiple congregations in obligatory prayer is even more so.
It is true that if this were made a regular habit, such that a group of people waits for the first imam to finish and then comes after him on a regular, continuous basis, this is prohibited without a doubt.
The Shaykh : Yes. If we arrive as a group and the imam has already finished the prayer, we pray as a congregation. This is how the Sunnah came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One day, a man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was with his companions, and the man had missed the prayer. He said:
Who will give charity to this man by standing up and praying with him? So a man stood up and prayed with him.
من يتصدق على هذا فيقوم ويصلي معه ؟ فقام رجل وصلى معهwhen you pray in your camp then you come to a Masjid with a congregation, then pray with them. That will be a voluntary prayer for you.
إذا صليتما في رحالكما ثم أتيتما مسجد جمعة فصليا معهما فإنها لكما نافلةThe Salaf are reported to have done both. It is reported that they prayed, and it is reported that they did not pray. However, the Sunnah distinguishes between the disputing parties. As for the reports that they did not pray, in reality, it is a specific case where it is possible that they did not pray because they feared that people would follow their example, as they were the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also possible that they did not pray for fear that people would harbor resentment toward the imam in their hearts, thinking that this Companion lagged behind because he disliked praying behind this imam, and thus they would dislike this imam. A third possibility is that they did not pray for one of the reasons, such as someone being occupied with dhikr or the Qur'an, and they feared to disturb them. The important point is that this is a specific case that allows for many reasons, but what the Sunnah brought is the deciding factor and the judgment among people. It must be followed without following anyone else. I am amazed at those who say that establishing a congregation is charity if the one who established it has already prayed, and then they say that a congregation should not be established if it is obligatory. If two people come, they do not pray as a congregation, but if one person comes and finds one who has already prayed, they pray as a congregation. How is this? If the person who has already prayed is commanded to pray with the one who entered, how is the one who entered not commanded to pray with the one who entered, since the prayer of each of them is an obligation? And if it is permissible to have multiple congregations in voluntary prayer, then having multiple congregations in obligatory prayer is even more so.
It is true that if this were made a regular habit, such that a group of people waits for the first imam to finish and then comes after him on a regular, continuous basis, this is prohibited without a doubt.