If a man enters and finds two people praying, does the imam come forward or does the follower stay back?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, if two people pray in congregation and then a third person enters, and the imam comes forward or the follower stays back, and this happens before the takbir for the prayer, does this action affect the prayer of the two men?
The Shaykh : No, absolutely not, it does not affect it. If a man enters and finds two people praying in congregation, he joins them. If he wishes, he can have the imam come forward and stand in a row beside the follower, or if he wishes, he can have the follower stay back and the imam remain in his place.
The questioner : Before the takbir?
The Shaykh : Whether before the takbir or after it, but before the takbir is better, to avoid movement in the prayer that has no reason for it.
The Shaykh : No, absolutely not, it does not affect it. If a man enters and finds two people praying in congregation, he joins them. If he wishes, he can have the imam come forward and stand in a row beside the follower, or if he wishes, he can have the follower stay back and the imam remain in his place.
The questioner : Before the takbir?
The Shaykh : Whether before the takbir or after it, but before the takbir is better, to avoid movement in the prayer that has no reason for it.