Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah was asked:
Question:
A man missed the fajr prayer with the congregation. Does he pray the Raatibah [the Sunnah] or the obligation knowing that the congregation has left?
Answer:
He precedes the Raatibah over the obligation because the Sunnah of fajr is before the obligation. (This is the case) even if the congregants have left the Masjid
[Majmoo’ al-Fatawa wa Rasaail question no. 868]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan