How is the night prayer performed behind someone who is praying the sunset prayer, and vice versa?
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The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored, I prayed with a congregation who were praying the sunset prayer, while I was praying the night prayer. When they sat for the third unit, I sat with them. When the imam concluded the prayer, I stood up and performed a fourth unit. What is the ruling on this?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with this; it is a sound practice. You pray the night prayer behind someone who is praying the sunset prayer. When the imam concludes the prayer, you stand up and perform what you missed. There is nothing wrong with this. Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : There is a second issue. If you pray the sunset prayer behind someone who is praying the night prayer, and you join them in the second unit, there is no problem. Why? Because you will conclude the prayer with the imam. He has prayed four units, and you have prayed three. However, if you join them in the first unit, the imam will then stand for the fourth unit. What do you do? You separate from the congregation, recite the testimony, and conclude the prayer. Then you join the imam for the remainder of the night prayer. Yes.
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with this; it is a sound practice. You pray the night prayer behind someone who is praying the sunset prayer. When the imam concludes the prayer, you stand up and perform what you missed. There is nothing wrong with this. Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : There is a second issue. If you pray the sunset prayer behind someone who is praying the night prayer, and you join them in the second unit, there is no problem. Why? Because you will conclude the prayer with the imam. He has prayed four units, and you have prayed three. However, if you join them in the first unit, the imam will then stand for the fourth unit. What do you do? You separate from the congregation, recite the testimony, and conclude the prayer. Then you join the imam for the remainder of the night prayer. Yes.