Jurisprudential Rulings and Issues of Ṣalāh
Volume 01: Page 177Question
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتهRulings for One Who Joins the Congregation Late
Answer
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاتهAll praise is for Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
According to the stronger and sound opinion of the scholars, whoever catches at least one rakʿah with the imam in congregational prayer has, in effect, attained the reward of the complete congregation. However, whoever catches less than one rakʿah is not legally considered to have prayed in congregation. Nevertheless, such a person should still join the imam in whatever posture he finds him, and due to his sincere intention, he will be rewarded for the congregation—similar to the one who arrives after the congregation has ended—because the meanings of various aḥādīth indicate:
“Whoever intends a good deed but is unable to perform it due to an excuse, he is granted the reward of that good deed.”
Attaining a Rakʿah by Catching the Rukūʿ
Catching the imam in rukūʿ counts as attaining the rakʿah, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:مَنْ أَدْرَكَ الرُّكُوعَ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الرَّكْعَةَ
“Whoever catches the rukūʿ has caught the rakʿah.”
Reference: al-Mughnī wa’l-Sharḥ al-Kabīr: 1/580
Reference: al-Irwāʾ by al-Albānī: 2/266
Furthermore, in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, the incident of Sayyidunā Abū Bakrah رضي الله عنه is mentioned. He joined the congregation while the imam was in rukūʿ. The Prophet ﷺ did not command him to repeat that rakʿah; rather, he said:
ولا تعد
“Do not repeat (this action).”
This clearly indicates that the rakʿah was counted.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb idhā rakaʿa dūna al-ṣaff, ḥadīth: 783
Method of Joining the Imam in Rukūʿ
If the imam is in rukūʿ, the one joining late should:◈ First, stand upright and say Takbīr al-Taḥrīmah
◈ Then say another takbīr and go into rukūʿ
This method is more virtuous and preferable.
If someone only says Takbīr al-Taḥrīmah and goes directly into rukūʿ, this is also valid. However, saying Takbīr al-Taḥrīmah while standing is mandatory, whereas the takbīr for rukūʿ afterward is recommended and preferable.
Joining the Imam in Whatever Position He Is In
A person joining the congregation should enter the prayer in whatever posture he finds the imam, after saying Takbīr al-Taḥrīmah, because Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:إِذَا جِئْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَنَحْنُ سُجُودٌ فَاسْجُدُوا وَلَا تَعُدُّوهَا شَيْئًا
“When you come to the prayer and we are in prostration, then prostrate as well, but do not count it as a rakʿah.”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb al-rajul yudrik al-imām sājidan, ḥadīth: 893
Completing the Remaining Prayer After the Imam’s Salām
When the imam completes both salāms, the masbūq (one who joined late) should then stand and complete the remaining portion of his prayer. It is not permissible to stand after only one salām of the imam; rather, waiting for the second salām is obligatory.[Note: Ṣārim]
Status of the Rakʿahs Prayed With the Imam
According to the sound opinion, the rakʿahs prayed with the imam are considered the initial rakʿahs of the follower’s prayer, and the rakʿahs performed after the imam’s salām are his final rakʿahs, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا
“Whatever you miss, complete it.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb lā yasʿā ilā al-ṣalāh, ḥadīth: 636
In another narration:
وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَاقْضُوا
“Whatever you miss, make it up.”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 573
Reference: Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 862
There is no contradiction between these narrations, because here “qaḍāʾ” does not mean technical make-up, but rather completion, as used in the Qurʾān:
﴿فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ﴾
“When the prayer has been completed.”
Reference: Sūrat al-Jumuʿah: 62:10
And:
﴿فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمْ مَنَاسِكَكُمْ﴾
“When you have completed your rites.”
Reference: Sūrat al-Baqarah: 2:200
Recitation of the Follower in Loud (Jahrī) Prayers
When the prayer is jahrī, it is obligatory for the follower to listen attentively to the imam’s recitation and not recite himself, because Allah Almighty says:﴿وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾
“And when the Qurʾān is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent so that you may receive mercy.”
Reference: Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 7:204
Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله stated that this verse was revealed regarding prayer, and there is consensus upon this.
Reference: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā by Ibn Taymiyyah: 22/295
Saying Āmīn after the imam’s recitation stands in place of recitation, as shown by the incident of Mūsā and Hārūn عليهما السلام, where Allah said:
﴿قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُمَا﴾
“Your supplication has been answered.”
Reference: Sūrat Yūnus: 10:89
Even though the supplication was made by Mūsā عليه السلام, and Hārūn عليه السلام said Āmīn.
Reference: Sūrat Yūnus: 10:88
Silent Prayers or When the Imam’s Voice Is Not Heard
If the prayer is silent (sirrī) or the imam’s voice does not reach the follower, then the follower should recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah. This is the best and most balanced reconciliation.
Reference: Irshād al-Sārī: 2/402
Reference: Abū Zayd
Following the Imam and the Prohibition of Preceding Him
Among the important rulings of congregational prayer is that the follower must strictly follow the imam. Preceding the imam is prohibited. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ
“Does one of you not fear that if he raises his head before the imam, Allah may turn his head into the head of a donkey?”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 691
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 427
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 2/504
And he ﷺ said:
إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ
“The imam has only been appointed to be followed.”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 603
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 2/341
Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه punished a person who preceded the imam and said:
“You neither followed your imam nor prayed with the congregation.”
Reference: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 3/337
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله stated that preceding the imam is unanimously prohibited according to all imams.
Reference: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 23/336
Conclusion
Preceding the imam is a satanic trial that disrupts the prayer. It brings no benefit; rather, it leads to severe warnings. Every Muslim must remain cautious in this matter and strictly adhere to following the imam.We supplicate to Allah Almighty to grant us correct understanding of the religion and enable us to act upon its rulings. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Accepter of supplications.
