Is it permissible to pray with a person who came late and joined the imaam after one or two rak’ahs, so when he stands up to complete his prayer after the imaam has finished, another person who was late and missed the prayer comes and prays with him so that he (the first latecomer) will be an imaam? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you with good.


Praise be to Allaah.
 

Yes, it is permissible for the latecomer who missed the prayer to follow one who is making up what he missed of the prayer with the original imaam, and the (second) imaam does not have to have the intention of leading the other in prayer.