If a person has not prayed Maghrib and enters a mosque while they are praying 'Isha', what should he do?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. A man who is traveling has not prayed Maghrib and enters a congregation of residents whose imam is a resident and is praying 'Isha. What should he do, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : If a person has not prayed Maghrib and enters while the people are praying the 'Isha prayer, he enters with them intending Maghrib. Then, if he catches the imam in the first rak'ah, he sits when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. He then joins the imam in the remainder of the 'Isha prayer. If he catches the imam in the second rak'ah, he says the taslim with the imam, because he has completed three rak'ahs. If he catches him in the third rak'ah, he performs one rak'ah after the imam's taslim.
The questioner : And is it considered as differing from the imam, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It is not considered differing from the imam.
The Shaykh : Differing for an excuse is permissible, and the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have stated this in their books, including Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and other scholars. Yes, on the right.
May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. A man who is traveling has not prayed Maghrib and enters a congregation of residents whose imam is a resident and is praying 'Isha. What should he do, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : If a person has not prayed Maghrib and enters while the people are praying the 'Isha prayer, he enters with them intending Maghrib. Then, if he catches the imam in the first rak'ah, he sits when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. He then joins the imam in the remainder of the 'Isha prayer. If he catches the imam in the second rak'ah, he says the taslim with the imam, because he has completed three rak'ahs. If he catches him in the third rak'ah, he performs one rak'ah after the imam's taslim.
The questioner : And is it considered as differing from the imam, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It is not considered differing from the imam.
The Shaykh : Differing for an excuse is permissible, and the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have stated this in their books, including Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and other scholars. Yes, on the right.