Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 367
If a follower (muqtadī) joins the congregation in the second or third rakʿah, will that rakʿah be counted as his first or as the last? And should he recite thanaaʾ (سبحانك اللهم...)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ Whichever rakʿah the follower joins with the imām will be counted as his first rakʿah.
◈ If the prayer is silent (sirriyyah) and the follower feels he has time, he should recite both thanaaʾ and Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.
✿ But if time is short, he should leave thanaaʾ and recite only Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, because the prayer is invalid without al-Fātiḥah, whereas thanaaʾ is not obligatory.
◈ In both fard and nafl prayers — whether prayed individually or in congregation — reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in every rakʿah is obligatory.
◈ If the prayer is loud (jahrīyyah) and the imām is reciting aloud, the follower should recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah only, since during audible recitation only al-Fātiḥah is required.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا، وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb Mā Adraktum Fa-Ṣallū wa Mā Fātakum Fa-Atimmū, 1/88)
Translation:
“Whatever part of the prayer you catch (with the imām), pray it; and whatever you miss, complete it afterwards.”
✔ The rakʿah in which a follower joins the imām counts as his first rakʿah.
✔ In sirrī prayers, if time permits, both thanaaʾ and al-Fātiḥah may be recited; otherwise, only al-Fātiḥah.
✔ In jahrī prayers, the follower should recite al-Fātiḥah only.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
If a follower (muqtadī) joins the congregation in the second or third rakʿah, will that rakʿah be counted as his first or as the last? And should he recite thanaaʾ (سبحانك اللهم...)?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ Whichever rakʿah the follower joins with the imām will be counted as his first rakʿah.
◈ If the prayer is silent (sirriyyah) and the follower feels he has time, he should recite both thanaaʾ and Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.
✿ But if time is short, he should leave thanaaʾ and recite only Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, because the prayer is invalid without al-Fātiḥah, whereas thanaaʾ is not obligatory.
◈ In both fard and nafl prayers — whether prayed individually or in congregation — reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in every rakʿah is obligatory.
◈ If the prayer is loud (jahrīyyah) and the imām is reciting aloud, the follower should recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah only, since during audible recitation only al-Fātiḥah is required.
Evidence from Ḥadīth
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا، وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb Mā Adraktum Fa-Ṣallū wa Mā Fātakum Fa-Atimmū, 1/88)
Translation:
“Whatever part of the prayer you catch (with the imām), pray it; and whatever you miss, complete it afterwards.”
Conclusion
✔ The rakʿah in which a follower joins the imām counts as his first rakʿah.
✔ In sirrī prayers, if time permits, both thanaaʾ and al-Fātiḥah may be recited; otherwise, only al-Fātiḥah.
✔ In jahrī prayers, the follower should recite al-Fātiḥah only.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
