QA-ID-0059
QUESTION
I was praying Namaz and someone tapped my back and joined me in congregation. I was praying Nafil but I think he was praying with intention of Farz. I’d like to be enlightened about the ruling on this case for future incidents please.
ANSWER
﷽
According to the Hanafī school, the validity of the follower’s (muqtadī) salāh depends on whether the Imām’s salāh matches the follower’s salāh (nafl with nafl, same fard with same fard) or if the Imām’s salāh holds a higher ruling than the follower’s salāh (Imām = fard, follower = nafl). If the salāh is the same in ruling or if the Imām’s salāh is higher in ruling, then the follower’s salāh is valid. However, if the Imām’s salāh is of a lower ruling (e.g., nafl) while the follower’s salāh is of a higher ruling (e.g., fard), then the follower’s salāh is considered invalid.
Hence, if someone joins with the intention of fard behind a person praying nafl, the follower’s salāh is considered invalid since the salāh differs and the Imām’s salāh holds a lower ruling than the follower’s salāh.
(See general Hanafī fiqh texts).
If you are praying nafl and someone taps you so that they can join, you can lead. After the salāh, you can explain that you were praying nafl. If they follow the Hanafī school, they will repeat the salāh. If they belong to another school, their salāh is valid since some of the other schools hold that the follower’s prayer is valid even if the Imām’s prayer holds a lesser ruling or doesn’t match the follower’s prayer. They are not required to repeat the prayer.
والله تعالى أعلم
And Allāh Knows Best
Muhammad Kalim Misbahi
