Should a Latecomer (Masbūq) Join the Congregation During the Imām’s Final Tashahhud?
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 170
Question:
If the Imām is in the final tashahhud, should a latecomer (masbūq), whose prayer is incomplete, join the congregation at that time, or should he wait until the Imām finishes and then pray alone?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Guidance for this issue is found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth no. 636:
«فَمَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا ، وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا»
"Whatever portion of prayer you catch, offer it; and whatever portion you miss, complete it."
This narration makes it clear that a follower should join the Imām in whatever position he finds him, and later complete whatever remains of his own prayer.
The Practice of Muʿādh رضي الله عنه and the Approval of the Prophet ﷺ:
In Sunan Abī Dāwūd (Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd, 523, Bāb: Kayfa al-Adhān, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh), a detailed incident is mentioned:
«کَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا جَائَ یَسْأَلُ : فَیُخْبَرُ بِمَا سُبِقَ مِنْ صَلاَتِہٖ ، وَأَنَّہُمْ قَامُوْا مَعَ رَسُوْلِ اﷲِ ﷺ مِنْ بَیْنِ قَائِمٍ وَّرَاکِعٍ وَّقَاعِدٍ وَّمُصَلٍّ مَعَ رَسُوْلِ اﷲِ ﷺ ۔ قَالَ: فَجَائََ مُعَاذٌ ، فَأَشَارُوْا إِلَیْہِ ، فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ : لاَ أَرَاہُ عَلٰی حَالٍ إِلاَّ کُنْتُ عَلَیْہَا ۔ قَالَ: فَقَالَ : إِنَّ مُعَاذًا قَدْ سَنَّ لَکُمْ سُنَّةً کَذٰلِکَ فَافْعَلُوْا»
Translation:
Whenever a man came (to the mosque) and asked about the part of the prayer that had already passed, he would be informed accordingly. The people were engaged with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: some standing, some in bowing, some sitting, and some praying along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then Muʿādh رضي الله عنه came, and the people gestured to him. Muʿādh said: “In whatever position I see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I will join him in that.” The Prophet ﷺ then said: “Indeed, Muʿādh has established a Sunnah for you, so act upon it.”
Fiqh Ruling:
From these aḥādīth it becomes clear that:
✔ If a latecomer finds the Imām in the final tashahhud, he should immediately join the congregation.
✔ Waiting for the Imām to finish and then praying alone is incorrect, as it goes against the Sunnah.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
