Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. What is the ruling if I mistakenly joined a congregational prayer thinking that they are still praying but in truth the congregational prayer has already ended? Is it permissible for me to continue my prayer or should I stop and start again?
Hope for an explanation from you. Thank you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Prophet PBUH commanded his ummah to perform prayer and encouraged them to perform it in congregation. Allah SWT state:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
“And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].”
Surah al-Baqarah (43)
Furthermore, in a hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَذِّ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً
“Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.”
Sahih Muslim (1509)
In another narration, it is stated:
صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ وَحْدَهُ بِخَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا
"Prayer in congregation is better than the prayer of one of you on his own by twenty-five parts."
Sahih Muslim (1504)
Imam al-Nawawi said that whether it is twenty-five or twenty-seven parts is according to the condition of the prayer that the person performed. Some will receive 25 and others 27 according to the degree of how he maintained and performed his congregational prayer. (Refer al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 4/183)
Coming back to the question asked, the ruling of mistakenly joining a congregational prayer which has already finished and completed their prayer with the imam is invalid and it is obligatory for the prayer to be repeated. The reason is, the Islamic legal maxim state:
لَا عِبْرَةَ بِالظّنّ البَيّن خَطَؤُهُ
“Assumptions are not considered when the fault is certain.”
This means that if someone realizes that he has made a mistake in joining a congregation where the imam has already completed his prayer, then he can no longer assumed that his prayer is valid and continue his prayer.
Syeikh Ba’lawiy discusses the related matters pertaining this in his book Bughyat al-Mustarsyidin, where he said:
مَسْأَلَة: رَأَى جَمَاعَةً يُصَلُّونَ فَظَنَّ أَنَّهُم مُقْتَدُونَ بِإِمَامٍ وَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَيَّهُم هُوَ فَصَلَّى مَعَهُم، ثُمَّ تَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهُم مُنْفَرِدُونَ وَجَبَتْ الِإعَادَة
“Someone saw a congregation who are performing prayer and think that they are following an imam, however he is unsure as to who the imam is, then he just joined them. However, afterwards he found out that they are actually praying alone. Thus, it is obligatory for him to repeat his prayer.” (Refer Bughyat al-Mustarsyidin: 92)
Besides, Imam Ramli also stated in his fatwa:
سُئِلَ عَمَّنْ رَأَى جَمَاعَةً يُصَلُّونَ فَظَنَّ أَنَّهُم مُقْتَدُونَ بِإِمَامٍ وَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَيَّهُم هُوَ فَاقْتَدَى بِهِ وَصَلَّى مَعَهُم، ثُم تَبَيَّنَ كَوْنُهُم مُنْفَرِدِينَ فَهَلْ تَجِبُ إِعَادَةُ صَلَاتِهِ أَمْ لَا؟ فَأَجَابَ بِأَنَّهُ تَجِبُ إِعَادَةُ صَلَاتِهِ
“It was asked about a person who saw a congregation who are praying and thought that they are performing congregational prayer, following an imam, then he follows praying with them. However, afterwards he found out that they are actually praying alone. The question is, is it obligatory for him to repeat the prayer? Then, the Syeikh answered that it is obligatory for him to repeat the prayer.” (Refer Fatwa al-Ramli fi Furu’ al-Fiqh al-Syafie: 136)
Conclusion
According to the above discussion and arguments, we would like to state that if a person mistakenly joined a congregation who he thought is following an imam but in truth masbuq and the imam has already completed the prayer, then his prayer is invalid. Thus, the questioner should not continue with his prayer and repeat the prayer.
May Allah SWT bless us with His guidance in performing worship to Him with true sincerity the best we could. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.