A traveler who prayed behind a resident imam and shortened the prayer, praying two rak'ahs and completing the taslim: what is the ruling on his prayer? Does he have to make it up?
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The questioner : A traveler prayed with a resident, but he shortened the prayer. The imam had two rak'ahs remaining, so the traveler shortened his prayer and completed the taslim with the imam. What is the ruling on his prayer? And if it is invalid, does he have to make it up?
The Shaykh : Yes, his prayer is not valid, and he has to repeat it.
The student: By shortening it?
The Shaykh : He has to repeat it in full, because the obligation in his conscience was for the full prayer. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Sahih al-Bukhari 635 This is general for travel and non-travel. So convey this, may Allah reward you. The one who did this has to repeat it as four rak'ahs until his conscience is cleared.
The questioner : ... by the taslim it became invalid, so it seems he wants to make it up now as a new prayer.
The Shaykh : No, he is going to make up a prayer that was obligatory upon him as four rak'ahs, so he must pray four rak'ahs.
The Shaykh : Yes, his prayer is not valid, and he has to repeat it.
The student: By shortening it?
The Shaykh : He has to repeat it in full, because the obligation in his conscience was for the full prayer. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
and pray whatever you get (with the people) and complete the rest which you have missed
ما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواAnd 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) was asked: What is the matter with a man who prays two rak'ahs while the imam prays four? He said: That is the Sunnah.
وسئل عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما: ما بال الرجل يصلي ركعتين ومع الإمام أربعاً؟ قال: تلك هي السنةThe questioner : ... by the taslim it became invalid, so it seems he wants to make it up now as a new prayer.
The Shaykh : No, he is going to make up a prayer that was obligatory upon him as four rak'ahs, so he must pray four rak'ahs.