Question Summary:
Q1) What is your opinion and ruling about a person who is praying alone and then someone joins him (as a Jamaat). Should be change intentions and become an Imam?

Question Detail:

Q1) What is your opinion and ruling about a person who is praying alone and then someone joins him (as a Jamaat). Should be change intentions and become an Imam?
Q2) What is your opinion and ruling about a person who was late to congregational (Jamaat) prayer and he stands up to complete his missed Rakaat and another person joins him (as a Jamaat). Should be change intentions and become an Imam although his intention originally was that of a Muqtadi (follower)?

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
 
1.      It is not a pre-requisite for the Imam to make intention of Imaamat in order for the Salaat to be valid. If one is performing Salaat alone and one joins him later, he could make the intention of being an Imaam. He will be rewarded for making the intention of being an Imaam.
[Bahishti Zewar Zam Zam pg130 v1]
2.      According to the Hanafi Mazhab, It is not permissible to follow a Masbooq (late comer) in Salaat (prayer) nor is it permissible for him (Masbooq) to follow another Imaam.
 
أَنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ اقْتِدَاؤُهُ وَلَا الِاقْتِدَاءُ بِهِ    {فتاوي الهندية ج1 ص102}
وَكَذَا لَا يَصِحُّ اقْتِدَاءُ الْأُمِّيِّ بِالْأَخْرَسِ وَالْكَاسِي بِالْعَارِي وَالْمَسْبُوقِ في قَضَاءِ ما سَبَقَ بمثله  {فتاوي الهندية ص ج}
 
And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Mohammed Moola,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah