The principle in praying with an imam is to follow him, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The imam is appointed to be followed, so do not differ from him.”

You do not leave the imam’s prayer until it concludes with the Taslīm (the closing salutation), similar to the case of a latecomer joining the prayer, or a resident praying behind a traveling imam, or someone who does not perform Witr (the odd-numbered prayer) with a single rak῾ah.

However, the individual prayer performed alone, whether it is performed on time or as a make-up, is not influenced by the imam’s status, because there is no following, and the previous prayer does not affect it.

If one intends to combine Maghrib and Isha due to a valid reason for combining, and prays Maghrib with the congregation, they may then follow it with Isha, praying it early and shortening it individually after the imam finishes the Maghrib prayer.

Similarly, if one intends to delay combining the prayers and prays Dhuhr shortened due to travel while intending to combine it with ῾Asr, and the ῾Asr prayer is then held in congregation, they may join the congregation. This applies according to the opinion that does not require continuity in the combined prayers.

If one prays Dhuhr with the imam while intending to combine, they should pray ῾Asr after the imam completes the Dhuhr prayer, whether they pray it shortened or in full.

Following the imam ends with his Taslīm, as mentioned, and the individual returns to the state of praying alone. If they were a latecomer, they complete or make up their prayer according to their school of Islamic thought. If they were a resident, they complete their prayer as a resident.

Fatwā issued by Dr. Khālid Naṣr