Ruling on Establishing a Second Congregation After the First Congregation Has Ended

Q: My brother, A. A. from Riyadh, asks and says: They entered the mosque congregation and found that the imam had already said the closing salam. Are they permitted to pray as another congregation?

A: There is no blame on them in doing so. If they find that the imam has already prayed, they should establish and pray as another congregation, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) established another congregation in the story of the man who entered and had missed the prayer. He said to some of those present: Because the prayer of a man with his brother is purer than his prayer alone. So if he misses the congregation and finds others, he prays with them as a congregation. Anas and others among the Companions did this.
As for the statement of some scholars that they should not pray as a congregation, but rather return to their homes and pray individually, that is a weak and rejected opinion, contrary to the Sunnah and contrary to the principles of the Shari'ah. And success is from Allah.