A person enters the mosque and finds the imam praying the tarawih, but he has not prayed the 'Isha'. Does he join him with the intention of 'Isha, or what should he do?
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The Shaykh : Yes, please go ahead.
The questioner : I entered, O Shaykh, the Sacred Mosque without having prayed the 'Isha, and I found him praying the tarawih. Should I pray the tarawih with him with the intention of 'Isha, or should I pray the 'Isha?
The Shaykh : Yes, if a person enters the mosque and the people are praying the tarawih and he has not prayed the 'Isha, he joins them with the intention of 'Isha. Then, if he is a traveler and he joined the imam in the first rak'ah, he says the taslim with the imam, because a traveler prays the 'Isha in two rak'ahs. And if he is a resident, then when the imam says the taslim, he completes the remaining four rak'ahs that are due on him.
Someone might say: How can I pray an obligatory prayer behind a voluntary prayer? We say: Yes, pray an obligatory prayer behind a voluntary prayer, for this occurred in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) would pray the 'Isha with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then he would go to his people and pray with them the same prayer, so it would be a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them.
The questioner : Shaykh, what if he has someone with him?
The Shaykh : Even if he has someone with him, it is better that they do not separate from the Muslims. It is better that they pray with the Muslims and intend the obligatory prayer.
The questioner : I entered, O Shaykh, the Sacred Mosque without having prayed the 'Isha, and I found him praying the tarawih. Should I pray the tarawih with him with the intention of 'Isha, or should I pray the 'Isha?
The Shaykh : Yes, if a person enters the mosque and the people are praying the tarawih and he has not prayed the 'Isha, he joins them with the intention of 'Isha. Then, if he is a traveler and he joined the imam in the first rak'ah, he says the taslim with the imam, because a traveler prays the 'Isha in two rak'ahs. And if he is a resident, then when the imam says the taslim, he completes the remaining four rak'ahs that are due on him.
Someone might say: How can I pray an obligatory prayer behind a voluntary prayer? We say: Yes, pray an obligatory prayer behind a voluntary prayer, for this occurred in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) would pray the 'Isha with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then he would go to his people and pray with them the same prayer, so it would be a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them.
The questioner : Shaykh, what if he has someone with him?
The Shaykh : Even if he has someone with him, it is better that they do not separate from the Muslims. It is better that they pray with the Muslims and intend the obligatory prayer.