Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
If a person is engaged in a voluntary (nafl) prayer and the iqāmah for the obligatory prayer is called, should he break his nafl prayer immediately or complete it and then join the congregation? Please explain in light of the Qur’ān and Sunnah.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Among the scholars and jurists, there are two well-known opinions on this issue:
When the iqāmah is called, the Prophet ﷺ gave a clear instruction:
«إذا أقيمت الصلاة فلا صلاة إلا المكتوبة»
“When the prayer is established (iqāmah is called), there is no prayer except the obligatory one.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 710)
From this, it is understood that starting or continuing a nafl prayer after iqāmah is prohibited.
According to some scholars, if the worshipper has completed one rakʿah of the nafl prayer before the iqāmah, then:
◈ He may continue the prayer, provided he completes it quickly and does not miss a rakʿah of the congregational prayer.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
If a person is engaged in a voluntary (nafl) prayer and the iqāmah for the obligatory prayer is called, should he break his nafl prayer immediately or complete it and then join the congregation? Please explain in light of the Qur’ān and Sunnah.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Among the scholars and jurists, there are two well-known opinions on this issue:
1 – Immediate termination of nafl prayer is obligatory
When the iqāmah is called, the Prophet ﷺ gave a clear instruction:
«إذا أقيمت الصلاة فلا صلاة إلا المكتوبة»
“When the prayer is established (iqāmah is called), there is no prayer except the obligatory one.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 710)
From this, it is understood that starting or continuing a nafl prayer after iqāmah is prohibited.
2 – Nafl prayer may be continued if congregation will not be missed
According to some scholars, if the worshipper has completed one rakʿah of the nafl prayer before the iqāmah, then:
◈ He may continue the prayer, provided he completes it quickly and does not miss a rakʿah of the congregational prayer.
Balanced and Preferred Opinion (Rājiḥ Qawl):
- If the worshipper is in the second rakʿah:
◈ He should complete the prayer, but shorten the recitation and complete the bowing, prostrations, and tashahhud swiftly.
Evidence:
«من أدرك ركعة من الصلاة فقد أدرك الصلاة»
“Whoever catches a rakʿah of the prayer has caught the prayer.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 580; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 607)
Since one rakʿah was completed before the iqāmah, the prayer began before it and may be finished. - If the worshipper is still in the first rakʿah:
◈ He should break the prayer immediately, as no valid portion of it has been completed, in accordance with:
«إذا أقيمت الصلاة فلا صلاة إلا المكتوبة» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 710) - If there is a risk of missing any part of the congregational prayer:
◈ Even if he is in the second rakʿah, he must break the nafl prayer, because “a part of the obligatory prayer is better than a part of a voluntary prayer.”
Practical Summary Table:
| Situation during Iqāmah | Ruling | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| In first rakʿah | Break the nafl immediately | – |
| In second rakʿah | Complete quickly | Must not miss a rakʿah of congregation |
| In tashahhud or prostration | May complete | Must not miss a rakʿah of congregation |
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
