delaying one of them, and finds them praying Zuhr, while he has already prayed Zuhr. He joins them intending Asr; this too is not valid, because the intentions of the two prayers differ. This is the position of the madhhab.

The only exception to this is one who joins the Friday prayer late and catches less than one rak'ah. In that case, he joins the imam intending Zuhr, while the imam is praying the Friday prayer. Thus, the intentions differ here: the imam is praying the Friday prayer, whereas this latecomer is praying Zuhr. They said: There is nothing wrong with this, because Zuhr is a substitute for the Friday prayer; if the Friday prayer is missed, there is a connection between the two.

The second view is that it is valid for one praying Zuhr to follow one praying Asr, and for one praying Asr to follow one praying Zuhr; there is nothing wrong with this.

This is based on the general purport of the evidences mentioned previously.

As for their citing the Prophet's statement, “The imam has only been appointed to be followed, so do not differ from him” (1), we have already explained that what is meant by differing from him is opposing him in the actions of the prayer, as indicated by his saying: “When he says the takbir, then say the takbir.”

According to this view, if one prays a prayer containing more units than the imam's prayer, there is no issue.

For example, if one prays Isha behind someone praying Maghrib, we say: Pray with the imam, and when the imam gives the salām, stand and perform one more rak'ah.

But if he prays behind an imam whose prayer has more units than his own, a difficulty may arise, because if the follower continues with the imam, he adds to his own prayer; but if he remains seated, he differs from his imam.