Waiting for a particular person before the prayer

Question

(1) What is the ruling on waiting five or ten minutes for some particular or ordinary person after the time fixed for the congregational prayer has fully arrived, when the imam is present and the followers (muqtadis) have also gathered? (2) What is the ruling on standing up for the prayer when, from waiting and waiting for some particular person or one’s beloved friend, the time has become narrow, while the other followers are present?

Answer

If it is not burdensome for the followers and there is no fear of the time becoming makruh, there is no harm in waiting a little for someone who is regular in attending the congregation; but this should not be made a habit, nor should it be that a person of standing is waited for while a poor man is not waited for, even if he is more regular. (2) It is makruh and forbidden.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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