The ruling on the imam and the ma'mum differing in intention and the number of rak'ahs in prayer
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Question:
Our brother asks and says: A man entered the mosque 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?
Answer:
If a Muslim joins a person who is praying a four-rak'ah prayer, while his intention is Maghrib, by joining him thinking he is praying Maghrib, but it turns out he is praying 'Isha, as can happen during travels or in heavy rain, then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he should sit for the third, recite the tashahhud, and make du'a until his imam says the taslim. Then he says the taslim with him, and it suffices for him. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): This one has his intention, and this one has his intention, Sahih al-Bukhari 1 This is what the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
Likewise, if he prays 'Isha with him while intending Maghrib, and the one praying 'Isha is a traveler who says the taslim after two rak'ahs, then he should stand and pray the third rak'ah. His prayer is valid; he has his intention, and that man has his intention. This one intended Maghrib, which is three rak'ahs, and this one intended 'Isha shortened because he is a traveler, and he said the taslim after two. So when he says the taslim, the one praying Maghrib stands and performs the third rak'ah.
Likewise, if he prays Dhuhr behind someone who is praying 'Asr, and they are praying in the time of combining prayers during travel—for example—and he thought they were praying Dhuhr, but they turned out to be praying 'Asr while he was praying Dhuhr, then his prayer is valid. He has his intention, and they have their intention. This is the correct view, for actions are by intentions.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Our brother asks and says: A man entered the mosque 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?
Answer:
If a Muslim joins a person who is praying a four-rak'ah prayer, while his intention is Maghrib, by joining him thinking he is praying Maghrib, but it turns out he is praying 'Isha, as can happen during travels or in heavy rain, then when the imam stands for the fourth rak'ah, he should sit for the third, recite the tashahhud, and make du'a until his imam says the taslim. Then he says the taslim with him, and it 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 one praying 'Isha is a traveler who says the taslim after two rak'ahs, then he should stand and pray the third rak'ah. His prayer is valid; he has his intention, and that man has his intention. This one intended Maghrib, which is three rak'ahs, and this one intended 'Isha shortened because he is a traveler, and he said the taslim after two. So when he says the taslim, the one praying Maghrib stands and performs the third rak'ah.
Likewise, if he prays Dhuhr behind someone who is praying 'Asr, and they are praying in the time of combining prayers during travel—for example—and he thought they were praying Dhuhr, but they turned out to be praying 'Asr while he was praying Dhuhr, then his prayer is valid. He has his intention, and they have their intention. This is the correct view, for actions are by intentions.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.