If one prays the obligatory prayer and then goes to a mosque and catches two units of prayer with the congregation, is he required to complete the prayer or is it permissible for him to be content with two units and conclude the prayer?
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The questioner : If a person goes to a mosque for the congregational prayer and the second call has been made, and he has already prayed the obligatory prayer and catches two units with them, is he required to complete the prayer or is it sufficient for him to pray two units and conclude the prayer?
The Shaykh : If there is no obstacle preventing completion, it is better to complete the prayer, due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 635.
However, if he fears missing the reason for which he came, such as one who came to pray over a funeral and catches two units with the imam, then he should conclude the prayer with the imam. This is because it is permissible to pray two voluntary units, and he only attended to pray over the funeral. Praying over the funeral is better for him than completing the prayer, because the prayer over the funeral...
The Shaykh : If there is no obstacle preventing completion, it is better to complete the prayer, due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
and pray whatever you get (with the people) and complete the rest which you have missed
ما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواHowever, if he fears missing the reason for which he came, such as one who came to pray over a funeral and catches two units with the imam, then he should conclude the prayer with the imam. This is because it is permissible to pray two voluntary units, and he only attended to pray over the funeral. Praying over the funeral is better for him than completing the prayer, because the prayer over the funeral...