Congregational Prayer and Its Virtue
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 57
وَ سَأَلَهُ سَمَاعَةُ: عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَأْتِي اَلْمَسْجِدَ وَ قَدْ صَلَّى أَهْلُهُ يَبْدَأُ بِالْمَكْتُوبَةِ أَوْ يَتَطَوَّعُ فَقَالَ «إِنْ كَانَ فِي وَقْتٍ حَسَنٍ فَلاَ بَأْسَ بِالتَّطَوُّعِ قَبْلَ اَلْفَرِيضَةِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ خَافَ خُرُوجَ اَلْوَقْتِ أَخَّرَهُ وَ لْيَبْدَأْ بِالْفَرِيضَةِ وَ هُوَ حَقُّ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ لْيَتَطَوَّعْ مَا شَاءَ.
Sama’a asked the Imam عليه السلام about a man who enters the mosque and finds that the congregation has already prayed. Should he begin with the obligatory (fardh) prayer or offer a voluntary (nafl) prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: "If there is still ample time, there is no harm in offering a voluntary prayer before the obligatory one. However, if he fears that the time for the obligatory prayer will end, he should prioritize the obligatory prayer, as it is the right of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty. Afterward, he may offer as many voluntary prayers as he wishes."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh