Are some people, missing the group-prayer at the mosque, allowed to pray collectively in another group- prayer at the mosque or not? Or is that forbidden due to the saying of Ibn-Mas`oud (May Allah be pleased with him or anyone else): "We, if missing the group-prayer or the group-prayer came to an end, used to pray individually on one` own." Or as was said by Ibn-Mas`oud (May Allah be please with him)

This question was presented to the Permanent Committee of the scientific researches and Iftaa` in SA, which purported that one, who came to the mosque after the group-prayer had been performed either by a regular or irregular Imam, is to pray collectively in another group-prayer with those who missed the main group-prayer like him. Some of the group that performed the prayer collectively could do him (the one who missed the group-prayer) a charity by means of performing the prayer again with him; as related by Ahmed in his Musnad and by Abu-Dawoud in his Sunnan on the authority of Abi-Said Al-khodarei (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw a man performing a prayer on his own , so he (the prophet) said " Is there a anyone who can do this man a charity by praying with him." Thus a man went to perform the prayer with him. Related by At-Tirmizhi

It was reported on the authority of Abi-Said Al-khodrie (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: A man came after the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) had performed the prayer, and thus the prophet said "Who wants to get rewarded on this man?" So a man stood up and prayed with him. At-Tirmizhi said it is an authentic Hadith, related and authenticated by Al-hakim with whom Az-Zahabi agreed on that. It was mentioned by bin-Hazm in Al-Muhalla and hinted on its authentication.

Abu-Eisa At-Tirmizhi said (the same as more than on companion and follower did) : It is allowed for a group of people to pray collectively in a group-prayer at a mosque where a group-prayer has erarlierly been performed. Such an opinion is undertaken by Ahmed and Isaac.

Others said: Those, who come to the mosque after the group-prayer has come to an end, should pray individually. Sophian, bin-Al-Mubarak, Malik, and Ashafe`i undertook such an opinion. However, they as well as those who agreed with them detested this opinion least it should lead to disunity, cause grudges, and represent an excuse for desire-followers to go late to group-prayers so as to pray in another group-prayer after an Imam who follows their creed and heresy. Thus as a means of shutting the door of disunity and averting intentions of low desire-followers, it is agreed not to pray a compulsory prayer in a group-prayer at a mosque where a group-prayer has earlierly been performed by a regular or irregular Imam

The first opinion is authentic and valid, due to the Hadith mentioned and Allah`s saying: "Fear Allah as much as you can." In addition to Prophet Muhammad`s (peace be upon him) saying: "When I order you to do something, do it as much as you can." There is no doubt that performing group-prayers is due to Allah`s fear and rulings of Shari`ah, and thus Muslims should be keen on them as much as they can. It is not righteous to contradict authentic reports with excuses permitted by scholars who detested the repetition of group-prayers at mosques for such excuses. We have to follow what authentic reports indicated; if it is noticed on an individual or a group that they repeatedly come late to the mosque – out of negligence- or it is known out of their creed or merits that they deliberately come late to the mosque to perform the prayers with their likes, they should be rebuked and punished as those in authority see it, so as to be a deterrence to them and their likes of the low desire-followers. Thus disunity and intentions of desire-followers are averted without avoiding the application of evidences proving that performing group-prayers is much better for those who missed the main group-prayer. Permanent Committee Fatawa 7/30