praying behind someone who is already praying

Question

Assalam-u-alaikum Mufti Sahib I follow Hanafi madhab and I am from Pakistan. At our university, there are a lot of somali and Arab brothers who come to the university prayer room but I don't know what madhab they follow. Bsacially sometimes they just come and follow us in the namaz even if we're praying nawafil. Sometimes they make us follow others who are just praying on their own. I don't like this idea because we don't even know that we're leading. Can you please explain the ruling on that and also if it's allowed in certain madhabs. jazakallah

for Mufti Ebrahim Desai · Accepted Answer

If the conditions for Imaamat are found in you, your leading them in Salaat is valid even if they joined you later on.

If a person commences his Salaat individually and somebody follows him a little later on, even in another Rakaat, it is permissible even in the Hanafi Madhab. If you do not want to follow somebody else who is praying on his own, they cannot compel you to do so. On what grounds do they make you follow others?

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

for Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

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