This matter is a subsidiary issue stemming from the original disagreement: Is it permissible for the person performing the obligatory prayer, Maghrib in this case, to be led by another person who is performing the voluntary prayer (Sunnah)?
Firstly, the foundation in this matter is several hadiths that appear contradictory, which include:
• What Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet ,peace be upon him, said: “The Imam (leader of the prayer) was appointed to be followed, so do not differ from him.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.]
• What Jabir ibn Abdullah narrated that Mu’adh used to pray the last ‘Isha prayer with the Messenger of Allah ,peace be upon him, and then go back to his people and lead them in that prayer. [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.]
The apparent contradiction between these two hadiths raises the question of how the Prophet ,peace be upon him, can command followers to adhere to the Imam’s actions of bowing, prostrating, standing, and sitting, while also prohibiting any opposition to the Imam.
I would say: How does this apply to Mu’adh’s prayer both with the Prophet and with his own people in the same prayer?
Secondly, the scholars have differed clearly in this matter, and the opinions are as follows:
The first opinion: The intention of the follower must align with the intention of the Imam, whether in obligatory or non-obligatory prayers, and deviation from this alignment is not permissible.
Based on this view, it is not permissible for an individual performing an obligatory prayer to pray behind someone performing a voluntary (Sunnah) prayer, nor for someone performing a voluntary prayer to be led by someone performing an obligatory prayer. It is also not permissible to perform an obligatory prayer behind someone who is performing a different obligatory prayer.”
This is the opinion of Al-Hasan al-Basri, Al-Zuhri, Yahya ibn Sa’id al-Ansari, Rabi’ah, and Abu Qilabah. It is also narrated from Imam Malik.
These scholars base their argument on the narration: ‘So do not differ from him.’
The second opinion: This view is entirely contrary to the first opinion. It asserts that deviation in intention is permissible for all cases. Therefore, an individual performing an obligatory prayer can pray behind someone performing a voluntary (Sunnah) prayer, and vice versa. Likewise, an individual performing an obligatory prayer can lead someone performing a different obligatory prayer.
This is the opinion of the Shafi’i school and also held by Dawud ibn Ali. Ibn al-Mundhir narrated it from Tawus, Ata, Al-Awza’i, Ahmad, Abu Thawr, and Sulaiman ibn Harb.
These scholars base their argument on the narration about Mu’adh, where he used to pray with the Prophet ,peace be upon him, and then lead his own people in prayer.
The third opinion: This view states that it is not permissible for an individual performing an obligatory prayer to pray behind someone performing a voluntary (Sunnah) prayer, nor for someone performing a different obligatory prayer to lead someone performing an obligatory prayer. However, they permit an individual performing a voluntary prayer to be led by someone performing an obligatory prayer.
This is the opinion of our Hanafi scholars, may Allah be pleased with them.
The philosophy behind this opinion is based on reconciling the two textual sources. The statement ‘Do not differ from him’ prohibits deviating from the intention, and Mu’adh’s action indicates that he used to pray with the Prophet with the intention of the Sunnah prayer, then lead his people in prayer, where he acted as their Imam. Additionally, the reasoning is that the Sunnah prayer is of a lesser degree than the obligatory prayer, and it is permissible to follow a higher form of worship (obligatory) with a lower form (voluntary), but not the other way around.
Therefore, on our school’s view, it is not permissible for a worshipper to enter with the Maghrib prayer intention behind someone performing the voluntary prayer.
However, according to the Shafi’i opinion, it is permissible. If one follows the Shafi’i opinion, they should follow their Imam in whatever way they pray, and they are not obligated to adhere to a specific recitation. Nevertheless, I do not favor this opinion for the reasons mentioned earlier and due to differences in actions and statements.
And Allah knows best.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr