Is it permissible for a congregant to pray with an intention different from that of the Imam, such as praying Dhuhr behind an Imam who is praying Asr? And is it permissible for the Imam, after the Tasleem, to follow his former congregant who is completing his prayer with the intention of a new prayer?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The preponderant view is that a difference in intention between the Imam and the congregant does not harm or prevent the validity of following (the Imam). This is the of Ash-Shafi'i and many verifiers. Thus, there is no harm for a congregant to pray Dhuhr behind an Imam who is praying Asr, nor is there any harm for an Imam to intend another prayer behind someone who is completing his prayer from those who joined late, because following someone who joined late is permissible according to the preponderant view.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/103862
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 103862
- 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