Praying One’s Own Prayer in the Mosque Before the Congregation

Question

A certain person, after the adhan and before the congregation in the mosque, prays individually and leaves. Despite being a scholar (‘alim), he prays without the congregation out of envy and rancour towards the imam. What is your view of him?

Answer

If there is no Shari‘a defect in the imam, and he does this out of personal enmity, then this is a highly blameworthy practice — he should desist from it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.