A man enters the mosque, and the ‘Ishā prayer is being prayed — but this man has not yet prayed Maghrib due to a valid excuse — so what does he do? (Shaikh Al-Albānī)

The Imam is Praying ‘Ishā and I Haven’t Prayed Maghrib Yet — What Should I do?

Question to Shaikh Al-Albānī (no. 6): “A man enters the mosque, and the ‘Ishā prayer is being prayed — but this man has not yet prayed Maghrib due to a valid excuse — so what does he do?”

Answer: This man is to follow the imām who is praying ‘Ishā — however, he should make the intention for Maghrib (in his heart). So when the imām stands for the fourth rak’ah, this man who is praying behind him has made the intention of separating between himself and the imām — so he remains seated and recites the tashahhud and completes the prayer (of Maghrib) by himself.

(Masā’il wa Ajwibatuhā lil-‘Allāmah Al-Muhaddith Nāsirud-Deen Al-Albānī, p. 9)

Abu Khadeejah ‘Abdul-Wāhid.