QA-ID-0017
QUESTION
- In Ramadan, if a person does not pray isha with the main congregation in the Masjid, can they join the witr with the main congregation? If such a person does pray witr with the main congregation, what is the ruling?
- If someone comes to the Masjid late after the isha congregation is over and they do their own isha congregation, can they then join witr with the main Imam who led the main isha congregation?
ANSWER
﷽
- It is better for a person who has prayed ‘īshā alone to not join the witr congregation. He should instead pray witr alone (see Fatāwā Ridawiyyah 7/545). If such a person does however pray witr with the congregation, then there is no issue and his witr is complete. This is simply a matter of what is preferred.
- If someone comes to the masjid late and the main ‘īshā congregation is finished, they can pray ‘īshā in their own congregation away from the mihrāb. If the tarāwīh is ongoing, they should pray away from the tarāwīh congregation so that it does not disturb others (see Fatāwā Ridawiyyah 7/544;568).
Such people who pray ‘īshā in their own congregation can certainly join the main Imām in the witr congregation, even if they did not pray ‘īshā behind this main Imām (see Fatāwā Ridawiyyah 7/565-566).
والله تعالى أعلم
And Allāh Knows Best
Muhammad Kalim Misbahi
