What is the ruling on a congregational prayer performed without knowing that a second congregation is praying, and is it obligatory to break the prayer if they learn of the second congregation during the prayer?
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The questioner : May Allah preserve you. Regarding two congregations in a mosque, where the second congregation does not know that there is another congregation in the mosque due to its size, as is the case in the two Holy Mosques, so they said the takbir and prayed, what is the ruling on their prayer? Is their prayer accepted, and are they required to break it if they learn of the existence of another congregation?
The Shaykh : That is, they entered the mosque and assumed that the people had already prayed.
The questioner : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : So they began the prayer, and then it became clear that the people of the mosque had not prayed?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : It became clear that another congregation had not prayed.
The Shaykh : They are praying, meaning in a different section?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : These people are not required to break the prayer, because they entered in a prescribed manner that is permitted. They entered assuming that the prayer had been missed from them, and one who misses the prayer establishes it in congregation, so they are not required to break the prayer. This is different from the case where they enter and say the takbir assuming that the people have finished the prayer, and then it becomes clear that the mosque’s congregation has not prayed, meaning the mu'adhdhin established the prayer while they had already begun their prayer. In this case, we say: break it, because the imam of the mosque has authority, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a man to lead another man in his authority. Do you understand? A distinction is made between the case where it is the primary first congregation or a subsequent congregation. If it is the first congregation, they break their prayer, even if they have already begun it, and then they join the first congregation. If it is the second congregation and they missed the prayer, for example, they do not break the prayer for this reason. Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, they entered the mosque and assumed that the people had already prayed.
The questioner : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : So they began the prayer, and then it became clear that the people of the mosque had not prayed?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : It became clear that another congregation had not prayed.
The Shaykh : They are praying, meaning in a different section?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : These people are not required to break the prayer, because they entered in a prescribed manner that is permitted. They entered assuming that the prayer had been missed from them, and one who misses the prayer establishes it in congregation, so they are not required to break the prayer. This is different from the case where they enter and say the takbir assuming that the people have finished the prayer, and then it becomes clear that the mosque’s congregation has not prayed, meaning the mu'adhdhin established the prayer while they had already begun their prayer. In this case, we say: break it, because the imam of the mosque has authority, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a man to lead another man in his authority. Do you understand? A distinction is made between the case where it is the primary first congregation or a subsequent congregation. If it is the first congregation, they break their prayer, even if they have already begun it, and then they join the first congregation. If it is the second congregation and they missed the prayer, for example, they do not break the prayer for this reason. Yes.