The imam’s prayer differing from that of the one praying behind him
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Q: A man entered to pray Maghrib and found a man praying, so he joined him, only to find that he was praying 'Asr. What should the man who is praying Maghrib do? Should he complete the prayer with him, or should he separate from him in the third rak'ah?
A: If a Muslim joins a person who is praying a four-rak'ah prayer while he intends to pray Maghrib, he should sit in the third rak'ah, and when the imam concludes the prayer, he should conclude it with him. This often happens during travels, and when combining the two prayers in a settled location during rainy weather. So, if he joins him in 'Isha' while he has not yet prayed Maghrib, he joins him with the intention of Maghrib. When the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he sits in the third, recites the tashahhud, and makes du'a' until his imam concludes the prayer, then he concludes it with him, and this suffices for him. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Thus, he has his intention and the other has his intention, due to this noble hadith, which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 1.
Likewise, if he prays 'Isha' with him while intending Maghrib, and the imam is a traveler praying 'Isha' shortened, and he concludes the prayer after two rak'ahs, then he stands and prays the third rak'ah. His prayer is valid; he has his intention and the imam has his intention. This one intended Maghrib, which is three rak'ahs, and this one intended 'Isha' shortened because he is a traveler and concluded the prayer after two rak'ahs. So, when he concludes the prayer, the ma'mum who intended Maghrib stands and performs the third rak'ah. Likewise, if he prays Zuhr behind someone who is praying 'Asr, such as a person who arrives while they are praying during the time of combining in travel, for example, and he thinks they are praying Zuhr, but they are praying 'Asr while he is praying Zuhr, then his prayer is valid; he has his intention and they have their intention. This is the correct view, for actions are by intentions.
It is established in the authentic hadith that Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pray the 'Isha' prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as an obligatory prayer, then he would return to his people and pray the 'Isha' prayer with them, which was voluntary for him and obligatory for them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not disapprove of that.
It is established about him (peace and blessings be upon him) that in some forms of the prayer of fear, he prayed two rak'ahs with one group, then prayed two rak'ahs with another group, so his prayer with the second group was voluntary for him, while it was obligatory for them.
A: If a Muslim joins a person who is praying a four-rak'ah prayer while he intends to pray Maghrib, he should sit in the third rak'ah, and when the imam concludes the prayer, he should conclude it with him. This often happens during travels, and when combining the two prayers in a settled location during rainy weather. So, if he joins him in 'Isha' while he has not yet prayed Maghrib, he joins him with the intention of Maghrib. When the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he sits in the third, recites the tashahhud, and makes du'a' until his imam concludes the prayer, then he concludes it with him, and this suffices for him. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Actions are only by intentions
إنما الأعمال بالنياتThe reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوىLikewise, if he prays 'Isha' with him while intending Maghrib, and the imam is a traveler praying 'Isha' shortened, and he concludes the prayer after two rak'ahs, then he stands and prays the third rak'ah. His prayer is valid; he has his intention and the imam has his intention. This one intended Maghrib, which is three rak'ahs, and this one intended 'Isha' shortened because he is a traveler and concluded the prayer after two rak'ahs. So, when he concludes the prayer, the ma'mum who intended Maghrib stands and performs the third rak'ah. Likewise, if he prays Zuhr behind someone who is praying 'Asr, such as a person who arrives while they are praying during the time of combining in travel, for example, and he thinks they are praying Zuhr, but they are praying 'Asr while he is praying Zuhr, then his prayer is valid; he has his intention and they have their intention. This is the correct view, for actions are by intentions.
It is established in the authentic hadith that Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pray the 'Isha' prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as an obligatory prayer, then he would return to his people and pray the 'Isha' prayer with them, which was voluntary for him and obligatory for them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not disapprove of that.
It is established about him (peace and blessings be upon him) that in some forms of the prayer of fear, he prayed two rak'ahs with one group, then prayed two rak'ahs with another group, so his prayer with the second group was voluntary for him, while it was obligatory for them.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.