After the completion of the congregational prayer, a group entered the mosque and began praying, then a third group entered and began praying; what is the ruling on the prayer of the third group?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. If the mosque congregation finishes their prayer and another group enters and begins praying, and then a third group enters but does not join them, rather they begin an independent prayer, what is the ruling on the prayer of the third group?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : From the perspective of validity and invalidity.
The Shaykh : As for the first group that established the prayer after missing the mosque congregation, they are rewarded and given reward for their action, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:330, and because a man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was with his companions and he had missed the prayer, so he said: .
As for the third group that arrived while the second group was praying, and they prayed alone, these are those who have separated from the congregation of the Muslims. I think they should repeat their prayer as a precaution, because they separated from the congregation. May Allah except them if they have an excuse, such as if these people are praying the 'Isha' prayer and we want to pray the Maghrib prayer; in this case, they may have a doubt and a point of view. But even so, we think they should join the second group, even if they are praying 'Isha' and these people are praying Maghrib, because the difference in intention between the imam and the follower does not harm, according to the stronger opinion.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : From the perspective of validity and invalidity.
The Shaykh : As for the first group that established the prayer after missing the mosque congregation, they are rewarded and given reward for their action, due to 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 الرّجل مع الرّجل أزكى من صلاته وحده، وصلاته مع الرّجلين أزكى من صلاته مع الرّجل، وما كان أكثر فهو أحبّ إلى اللهWho will give charity to this man and pray with him? So one of the Companions stood up and prayed with him.
من يتصدّق على هذا فيصلّي معه، فقام أحد الصّحابة وصلّى معهAs for the third group that arrived while the second group was praying, and they prayed alone, these are those who have separated from the congregation of the Muslims. I think they should repeat their prayer as a precaution, because they separated from the congregation. May Allah except them if they have an excuse, such as if these people are praying the 'Isha' prayer and we want to pray the Maghrib prayer; in this case, they may have a doubt and a point of view. But even so, we think they should join the second group, even if they are praying 'Isha' and these people are praying Maghrib, because the difference in intention between the imam and the follower does not harm, according to the stronger opinion.