RE: Can a latecomer lead others in prayer? What is meant by a latecomer?

 

Question: your reply to this email confused me?  Does this mean that there cannot be a second jamaat at the masjid? If a group of people are late, then one of them has to lead them anyways?

 In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

Walaikum assalam,

1. A 'latecomer' (masbuq) is someone who catches the imam's prayer, but missed one of more rakat. [Tumurtashi/Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar `ala Tanwir al-Absar]

2. Hanafis cannot pray by making a latecomer [defined above] their imam. [ibid.]

3. As for a second congregation at a mosque, see the attached answer for details.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani