What is the ruling on an individual praying alone in the mosque when another congregation is praying? And is it permissible to interrupt one's prayer to join an ongoing congregation?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Your prayer performed individually, even if a congregation is present, is valid, though praying with the congregation is superior due to its immense reward. Congregational prayer is not a condition for the validity of prayer according to the majority of scholars. If you catch the last with the Imam, you have indeed caught the congregational prayer and are not considered to have prayed individually. In such a case, it is not permissible for you to break your prayer to join another congregation.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/145074
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 145074
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy