If the one who joins the prayer late catches the first congregation in the last unit of prayer, is it permissible for him to wait for the second congregation?
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The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O honorable Shaykh: Regarding a person who comes to the mosque and has missed some units of prayer, and there is another congregation that will come, is it better for him to line up with this one, or has he missed a unit?
The Shaykh : If he catches a unit of prayer with the first congregation, he should not wait for the second.
The questioner : Provided he is certain that they will be a congregation.
The Shaykh : Even if he is not certain, because the congregation that carries the reward of twenty-seven degrees is the first one. The second is better than each person praying alone, but it does not carry the virtue of the first congregation. So if he catches a unit of prayer with the first congregation, he should not wait for the second.
The questioner : Now, what if he missed the final greeting, the final tashahhud?
The Shaykh : In this case, if he is certain that someone will come, he waits for him. If he is not certain, he joins the imam.
The questioner : Now, is it permissible for me if I come and a person is making up a missed prayer?
The Shaykh : Look, there is only one question here, because there are people present, and by justice the heavens and the earth are established. Yes.
The Shaykh : If he catches a unit of prayer with the first congregation, he should not wait for the second.
The questioner : Provided he is certain that they will be a congregation.
The Shaykh : Even if he is not certain, because the congregation that carries the reward of twenty-seven degrees is the first one. The second is better than each person praying alone, but it does not carry the virtue of the first congregation. So if he catches a unit of prayer with the first congregation, he should not wait for the second.
The questioner : Now, what if he missed the final greeting, the final tashahhud?
The Shaykh : In this case, if he is certain that someone will come, he waits for him. If he is not certain, he joins the imam.
The questioner : Now, is it permissible for me if I come and a person is making up a missed prayer?
The Shaykh : Look, there is only one question here, because there are people present, and by justice the heavens and the earth are established. Yes.