[He] was ill and they did surgery on him; [as a result] he missed a number of obligatory prayers, so is he required to pray them all together once he has recovered, or should he pray all these obligatory prayers at their appointed times, such as [making-up] the [missed] ‘asr [prayer] at the time of the ‘asr prayer, and the [missed] zhuhr [prayer] at the time of the zhuhr prayer, and the [missed] maghrib [prayer] at the time of the maghrib prayer, and so on?
Regarding Bishr ibn Mansoor, it was said that he never missed the initial takbeer [upon beginning the congregational prayer].
Who is the most worthy of leading the [congregational] prayer; is it the young child who has not yet reached puberty – but has memorised half of the Qur.aan, or a man who has only memorised 5 chapters [of the Qur.aan], as well as being upon the Sunnah, and [of sound] ‘aqeedah, and possessing knowledge of hadeeth and fiqh; and may Allaah reward you?
For fifty years, I never [once] missed the initial takbeer [upon beginning the congregational prayer], and nor have I seen the back of a man in the [congregational] prayer [since].
With regard to the prayer for rain, if a group [of people] enter [the masjid] and [find] the imaam is giving the sermon, after already having just completed the two rak’ah prayer [for rain in congregation], should they [now] offer the prayer [for rain themselves] or should they sit down [with the rest of the congregation] for the sermon? Also, is [the rain prayer] to be made up [if missed]? And [if it is], should they offer the prayer in congregation?
Is he required to [promptly] terminate his prayer in order to join the imaam [and congregation] in [the obligatory] prayer, or should he complete his prayer [first]?
