Question:
If a person joins the Janazah prayer during the second or third takbīr, how should he complete his prayer?
Answer by:
Scholar: Fahd Ansari ḥafiẓahullāh
Researcher: Kamran Ilahi Zaheer ḥafiẓahullāh
✿ General Principle
✔ In the Janazah prayer, whatever takbīr the follower catches with the Imam is counted as his first takbīr.
✔ After the Imam says the salām, the follower should complete the missed takbīrs in sequence, and then end the prayer with salām.
✿ Detailed Method for Completing Missed Takbīrs
If a person joins during the second or third takbīr, the following method should be followed:
➊ First Takbīr (his own first): Recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.
➋ Second Takbīr: Recite Ṣalāt upon the Prophet ﷺ (Durūd Sharīf).
➌ Third Takbīr: Make du‘ā for the deceased.
➍ Fourth Takbīr (after Imam’s salām): Say the takbīr, complete the final supplication, then end with salām.
✿ After the Imam’s Salām
✔ After the Imam concludes the prayer with salām, the latecomer should complete the remaining takbīrs promptly, ensuring the Janazah is not delayed unnecessarily.
✿ Supporting Evidences
From Ḥadīth:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates:
“Whatever portion of the prayer you catch, pray it, and what you miss, complete it afterward.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 636]
From Fiqh:
Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله stated:
“Whoever joins the Janazah prayer late, the takbīr he catches is counted as his first. He should complete the missed takbīrs after the Imam says salām.”
[Majmū‘ al-Fatāwā: 13/149]
✿ Important Guidelines
✔ Do not say salām with the Imam if your prayer is incomplete.
✔ Complete the remaining takbīrs and du‘ās promptly, so that the Janazah is not delayed.
✔ Avoid prolonging your prayer unnecessarily.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
