One Who Has Performed Salah (Prayer) but Wants to Join a Congregation or Has Led a People and Wants to Perform Again

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) alone then finds a congregation. He (the Imam) said, ’He can perform Salah (prayer) with them and make it to be an obligatory one.”’

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I enter Masjid and Salah (prayer) begins while I have already performed Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘You can perform Salah (prayer) with them; Allah chooses the lovelier one of the two.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who enters Masjid and begins Salah (prayer). While he is standing up in Salah (prayer) Adhan is said and Salah (prayer) begins. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can perform it as a two Rak‘at, then commence Salah (prayer) with the Imam and the two Rak‘at has to be optional Salah (prayer)”’

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, it is time for al-Dhuhr and we are not able to come down for Salah (prayer) in time until they come down. We come down with them and perform Salah (prayer). They quickly leave and we stand up to perform al-‘Asr and show them as if we perform Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees). They then come down for al-‘Asr and lead us. Can we perform Salah (prayer) with them? He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) with them. May Allah never grant them any Salah (prayer).”’

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I go to Masjid with my neighbors and others and they ask me to lead Salah (prayer) with them, when I have already performed Salah (prayer) before coming to them. Perhaps certain ones have followed me in Salah (prayer) that I have already performed and they are people of weak understanding and the ignorant ones. I dislike leading. I have performed in such condition that I have mentioned. Command me so I obey and follow your command by the will of Allah. He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘You must lead them in Salah (prayer).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever performs Salah (prayer) with them in the first row it is as if he has performed Salah (prayer) with the Messenger of Allah.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) and has completed only one Rak‘at of an obligatory Salah (prayer) that the Imam arrives. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is an Imam who possesses the quality of justice, he performs one more Rak‘at, completes and makes it an optional Salah (prayer). He joins the Imam in his Salah (prayer) as is. If he (the Imam) does not have the quality of justice, he (the man) continues with his Salah (prayer) as is. He performs one more Rak‘at with him (the Imam) and sits down for a time within which one can say: I testify that only Allah deserves worship, He is one and has no partners and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He then completes his Salah (prayer) with him as possibly he can; Taqiyah (fear) provides great chances and there is nothing performed in Taqiyah for which one is not rewarded by the will of Allah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one performs Salah (prayer) in his house then comes to one of their Masjid and performs Salah (prayer) with them, he leaves with all of their good deeds.’”