Question Summary:
Can someone follow a masbooq in Salah?

Question Detail:

I have seen arabs that if they missed the jamat salah and find one person who prayed with imam some part of the salah, he will just stand next to him and start praying as muqtadi, and other person will become imam and continue the prayer. Is this correct? Also if one like me is completing the prayer, one does stand next to me, what should I do?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There are differences of opinions amongst the Fuqahā’ (Jurists) in issues of iqtidā’ (following) in Salāh. According to the Hanafi mazhab (school), a masbooq (latecomer) cannot be an Imam. As such, he cannot be followed. [1] The practice of the Arabs you refer to is according to another mazhab [2]. We respect and tolerate the practice of the different mazhabs of the great Fuqahā’. While it is incorrect for us as Hanafis to follow a masbooq, if an adherent of another mazhab practises on that, it will be correct for him based on his mazhab. If someone stands next to you when you are making up your missed rak‘ahs, continue your Salāh as normal. The muqtadī that is following you is probably following another mazhab.                                                                                                                                                                                                                
And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best
Zameelur Rahman
Student Darul Iftaa
UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
[1]
لا يجوز الاقتداء بالمسبوق
حاشية ابن عابدين، دار المعرفة، ٢:٤١٩
ومنها أنه (أي المسبوق) منفرد فيما يقضي إلا في أربع مسائل: إحداها: أنه لا يجوز اقتداؤه ولا الاقتداء به
الفتاوى العامكرية، قديمي كتب خانه، ١٠٢
ألا ترى أنه يصح الاقتداء بالمنفرد ولا يصح بالمسبوق
فتاوى قاضيخان على هامش الهندية، مكتبة رشيدية، ١:١٠١
فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا، ٢:٣٠٢
[2]
يجوز الاقتداء به (أي المسبوق)
تحفة المحتاج بشرح المنهاج، دار الكتب العلمية، ١:٣١٣