The intention of the Imaam is different from that of the followers

The intention of the Imaam is different from that of the followers. Everyone has to make the intention for the prayer he is about to pray. The place of intention is the heart.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) Praying optional (Nafil) prayer behind the one who is praying the obligatory (Fardh) prayer:

a)

Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه narrated: A man came when Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم had already prayed, so he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Which of you will give some reward to this person?” So a man stood to pray with him. [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (220) and the wordings are his; and Sunan Abu Dawood (574) with the wordings: “Is there not a person who will give him charity by praying with him?”; and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

b)

Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to me: “How would you act when you are under the rulers who would delay the prayer beyond its prescribed time, or they would make prayer a dead thing as far as its proper time is concerned?” I said: What do you command? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Observe the prayer at its proper time, and thereafter if the Iqaamah is pronounced and you are in the Masjid, then pray it along with them, for it would be a Nafil prayer for you.” [Saheeh Muslim (1353, 1354, 1355, 1356, 1357, 1358, 1359)]

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2) Praying obligatory (Fardh) prayer behind the one who is praying optional (Nafil) prayer:

Narrated Jaabir bin `Abdullaah رضي الله عنه that Mu`aadh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه used to pray the `Ishaa prayer with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and then go to lead his people in this (same) prayer.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (700, 701, 711, 6106) and Saheeh Muslim (936, 937, 938, 939) and the wordings are his.]

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3) When a person comes late to the Masjid and joins the congregation while the Imaam is already in the second Rak`ah. It would be the second Rak`ah for the Imaam, but for the latecomer, it would be his first. So he has to complete whatever he has missed of his prayer after the Imaam does the Tasleem. (If the intention of the Imaam and the followers is the same, then the latecomer would have had to do the Tasleem with the Imaam, but that is not the case).

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: I heard Allaah’s Apostles صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: “If the prayer is started (i.e. the call for Iqaamah is made) do not run for it but just walk for it calmly and pray whatever you get, and complete whatever is missed.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (908) and Saheeh Muslim (602)]

Abu Qataadah said: “While we were praying behind the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم he heard commotion. At the end of the prayer, the Prophet said: “What is the matter with you?” They said: `We hastened to the prayer.' The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Don't do that. When you come for prayer, there should be tranquility upon you. Pray what remains of the prayer and complete what you have missed.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (635) and Saheeh Muslim (603)]