The ruling on one who prays in a mosque and then goes to another to pray with them

Q: What is the ruling on a man who prays with a congregation and then goes to a second mosque to pray with them, without any need for it, and makes this a habit?

A: As for the one who prays in a mosque and then goes to another congregation to pray with them as a regular practice, I do not know of any basis for this in the Shari'ah. What appears to be the case is that this is not appropriate, because it is contrary to the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). It is not of the same kind as the case of Mu'adh, because Mu'adh would pray with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and then go to his people to lead them in prayer. The person in question here does not lead them in prayer, but rather prays with them. There is an obvious difference between the two matters, and it is not permissible to analogize one to the other, because the second congregation may need an imam who is more knowledgeable and better at recitation to lead them in prayer and teach them, unlike an individual from the congregation, so there is no need for him to do so.