even when this occurs after ʿAsr. The evidence for that is the report that when some men entered after the people had already prayed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Who will show charity to this man by praying with him?” A further proof is the incident of those who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Masjid al-Khayf, sat in a corner of the mosque, and did not pray with him. When he concluded the prayer he called them over and questioned them. They explained that they had prayed in their quarters, whereupon he said, “Do not do that,” and instructed them that if they arrive while the congregational prayer is being held, they must pray with the people even though they have already prayed in their dwellings.

Praying in Congregation with a Lone Worshipper

Question: I went to the mosque and found that the congregational prayer had finished. I saw a man praying on his own. May I stand beside him, considering him the imam and myself the follower? Please advise us, and may Allah bless you.

Answer: Yes, according to the sounder of the two scholarly opinions you may pray with him. If you arrive after the main congregation has ended and find someone praying alone, there is no harm in joining him so that the two of you form a congregation, because the congregational prayer is obligatory whenever it is feasible—and here it is feasible, since this person is already praying. You should therefore join him, and Allah, exalted is He, knows best. The proof is the narration that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) “stood to pray during the night, and Ibn ʿAbbās came …”