Is it permissible for a traveler to lead the residents in prayer, given the fear of causing confusion? And does he shorten the prayer or complete it?
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The questioner : O esteemed Shaykh, if there are residents and a traveler, does the traveler step forward and pray with them, since he is the most deserving of leading the prayer? And if he prays with them, does he shorten the prayer, considering that it may cause confusion for them, as most of them are common people or school students, for example?
The Shaykh : If he is the best reciter among them and there is no regular imam, he is the most deserving of leading the prayer. He prays two rak'ahs and says the taslim, and he informs them beforehand that he will pray two rak'ahs because he is a traveler. The fact that it causes confusion for them is only because of ignorance of the Sunnah. If this Sunnah were known and clear to people, the confusion would not occur. So, his praying two rak'ahs, saying the taslim, and informing them beforehand that he is a traveler and will pray two rak'ahs serves to spread the Sunnah.
The questioner : And if they are young.
The Shaykh : Even if they are young students, if they are young students and there is a fear that they might understand something else, there is no harm in saying to the resident, "You pray."
The questioner : And if he is an open sinner.
The Shaykh : La ilaha illa Allah. Even if he is an open sinner, the prayer of an open sinner is valid, and if his prayer is valid, then his leading the prayer is valid. Yes.
The Shaykh : If he is the best reciter among them and there is no regular imam, he is the most deserving of leading the prayer. He prays two rak'ahs and says the taslim, and he informs them beforehand that he will pray two rak'ahs because he is a traveler. The fact that it causes confusion for them is only because of ignorance of the Sunnah. If this Sunnah were known and clear to people, the confusion would not occur. So, his praying two rak'ahs, saying the taslim, and informing them beforehand that he is a traveler and will pray two rak'ahs serves to spread the Sunnah.
The questioner : And if they are young.
The Shaykh : Even if they are young students, if they are young students and there is a fear that they might understand something else, there is no harm in saying to the resident, "You pray."
The questioner : And if he is an open sinner.
The Shaykh : La ilaha illa Allah. Even if he is an open sinner, the prayer of an open sinner is valid, and if his prayer is valid, then his leading the prayer is valid. Yes.