Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I recently led a group in the Isha prayer. As I am travelling I had already combined and shortened the Maghrib and Isha prayers but when asked to lead Isha I had completely forgotten that I had already prayed Isha.
What is the ruling in this situation?
Answer: As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmtullah wa barakatuh
Thank you for your question.
If you fulfilled the conditions of combining prayers according to the Shafiʾ, Ḥanbali or Maliki school then you have discharged the obligation of praying Isha. However, seeing as this is an issue differed upon by the elite jurists it is safer for one’s religious practice to repeat Isha in its own time if possible.Many of the scholars of Tarim, Yemen do this. Therefore, the Isha you led was valid for yourself and those who prayed behind you; you do not need to repeat it.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat