How does a Musafir complete his Salah when joining Jama’ah at a Masjid?

Mullā Khusrū (d.885 AH), ‘Allāmah ‘Aynī (d.855 AH), al-Mawsili (d. 663 AH), Ibn Māza al-Bukhari (d. 616 AH) and many other jurists state the above ruling. They explain that just as the intention of residency requires offering the complete prayer instead of the shortened version, following a resident Imam in this situation also requires the traveller to offer the full prayer. Following a resident Imam mandates upon the Muqtadi(follower) that which is compulsory upon the Imam i.e. the full and complete prayer. The Niyyaof Iqtida’ (following) by the traveller in favour of the resident Imam binds one to following the Imam in all his actions. Iqtida’is about Mutaba’ah; which is a form of delegating leadership and surrendering agency to another.

The rationale

As a result of this intent-based delegation, the traveller becomes subordinate to the resident Imam, and a subordinate has no independent status or legal power to override the senior and superior.

Jama’ah Salah is group prayer with one lead, where everyone is in sync. It is a perfect display of order and submission. Hence, the position and status of the Imam is very lofty, as he is the head of the delegation and congregation presenting themselves to Almighty Allah. All those behind the Imam are subordinates and presenting themselves to Almighty Allah as a group behind their representative and leader.

In any delegation, there is always a head that speaks and presents the case of the delegation to the counterparty. The delegation is generally silent and awaits the instructions of the lead. The case of Salah in Jama’ah is very similar; the Imam is the lead who presents our communal case to Almighty Allah for forgiveness and acceptance. The congregation facilitates our ‘reporting for duty and submission’ to Almighty Allah. It is a communal testimony and renewal of our pledge and allegiance to Almighty Allah five times a day. Considering the above, it is completely rational that the traveller follows the resident Imam in completing the Salah in full for a Salah in its time, as that is the call of the hour, and the live representation and delegation to Almighty Allah.