Jurisprudential Rulings and Issues of Prayer in Light of the Quran and Hadith: Volume 01: Page 177
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Rulings regarding one who joins the congregation late.
وعلیکم السلام ورحمة الله وبرکاته!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
According to the more correct opinion of the scholars, whoever catches at least one rak'ah of the congregational prayer with the Imam, it is as if he has attained the complete reward of the congregation. And whoever catches less than one rak'ah, he will not be considered as one who has performed the prayer in congregation according to the Sharia. However, he should join in whatever part he finds with the Imam, and due to his good intention, he will get the reward of the congregation, just like the person who arrives after the congregation has finished, because according to the meaning of various hadiths:
"Whoever intends to do good but cannot do it due to some excuse, he is given the reward of the good deed."
The rak'ah is attained by joining the Imam in ruku', because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَنْ أَدْرَكَ الرُّكُوعَ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الرَّكْعَةَ"
"Whoever catches the ruku', he has caught the rak'ah."
Also, the incident of Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari that he joined the congregation in the state of ruku', so the Prophet ﷺ did not order him to repeat that rak'ah, but said:
"ولا تعد"
Meaning, do not do it again.
From this it becomes clear that that rak'ah was counted.
If the Imam is in the state of Ruku', then the person arriving should:
◈ First stand and say Takbir-e-Tahrima
◈ Then say another Takbir and go into Ruku'
This method is preferable and more appropriate.
If a person only says Takbir-e-Tahrima and goes into Ruku', it is also correct, but saying Takbir-e-Tahrima while standing is necessary in any case, while saying the Takbir for Ruku' after that is recommended and preferable.
A person joining the congregation should say Takbir-e-Tahrima and join the Imam in whatever state he finds him, because it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"إِذَا جِئْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَنَحْنُ سُجُودٌ فَاسْجُدُوا وَلَا تَعُدُّوهَا شَيْئًا"
"When you come to prayer and we are in prostration, then prostrate, but do not count it as a Rak'ah."
When the Imam says Salam on both sides, then the Masbuq (one who joined late) should stand up and complete his remaining prayer. It is not correct to stand up as soon as the Imam says Salam on one side, but it is obligatory to wait for the second Salam.
According to the correct opinion, the Rak'ahs that the follower performs with the Imam will be counted as his initial Rak'ahs, and the Rak'ahs that he performs after the Imam's Salam will be his final Rak'ahs, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا"
"Complete the prayer that you have missed."
In another narration it is:
"وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَاقْضُوا"
"Offer the Qada of the prayer that you have missed."
These two narrations are not contradictory, because here "Qada" does not mean the technical Qada, but to complete, as it is stated in the Holy Quran:
﴿فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ﴾
"And when the prayer has been concluded..."
And He said:
﴿فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمْ مَنَاسِكَكُمْ﴾
"When you have completed your rites [of Hajj]..."
When the prayer is loud, 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﴾
"So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy."
Imam Ahmad رحمه الله says that this verse was revealed about prayer and there is a consensus on this.
The follower saying "Ameen" after the Imam's recitation is equivalent to recitation, as is clear from the story of Sayyidna Musa and Sayyidna Harun عليهما السلام:
﴿قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُمَا﴾
Although the supplication was made by Musa عليه السلام and Harun عليه السلام said Ameen.
If the prayer is silent or the Imam's voice is not reaching the follower, then in this case the follower should recite Surah Al-Fatiha, this is the best way to reconcile.
Among the important rules of congregational prayer is that the follower should completely follow the Imam. It is forbidden to precede the Imam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ"
"Doesn't the one who raises his head before the Imam fear that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey?"
And he ﷺ said:
"إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ"
"The Imam is appointed to be followed."
Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه punished a person who preceded the Imam and said:
"You neither followed your Imam nor prayed with the congregation."
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله states that preceding the Imam is unanimously forbidden according to all Imams.
Preceding the Imam is a satanic temptation that disrupts the prayer. It has no benefit but rather entails severe warning. Every Muslim should be cautious in this matter and completely follow the Imam.
We ask Allah Almighty to grant us a correct understanding of the religion and to enable us to act upon its commands. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Acceptor.
Question
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Rulings regarding one who joins the congregation late.
Answer
وعلیکم السلام ورحمة الله وبرکاته!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
According to the more correct opinion of the scholars, whoever catches at least one rak'ah of the congregational prayer with the Imam, it is as if he has attained the complete reward of the congregation. And whoever catches less than one rak'ah, he will not be considered as one who has performed the prayer in congregation according to the Sharia. However, he should join in whatever part he finds with the Imam, and due to his good intention, he will get the reward of the congregation, just like the person who arrives after the congregation has finished, because according to the meaning of various hadiths:
"Whoever intends to do good but cannot do it due to some excuse, he is given the reward of the good deed."
Attaining the Rak'ah by Attaining the Ruku'
The rak'ah is attained by joining the Imam in ruku', because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَنْ أَدْرَكَ الرُّكُوعَ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الرَّكْعَةَ"
"Whoever catches the ruku', he has caught the rak'ah."
Reference: Al-Mughni wa al-Sharh al-Kabir 1/580, Al-Irwa' lil-Albani 2/266
Also, the incident of Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari that he joined the congregation in the state of ruku', so the Prophet ﷺ did not order him to repeat that rak'ah, but said:
"ولا تعد"
Meaning, do not do it again.
From this it becomes clear that that rak'ah was counted.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan, Bab Idha Raka'a Dunas-Saff, Hadith 783
How to Join in the State of Ruku'
If the Imam is in the state of Ruku', then the person arriving should:
◈ First stand and say Takbir-e-Tahrima
◈ Then say another Takbir and go into Ruku'
This method is preferable and more appropriate.
If a person only says Takbir-e-Tahrima and goes into Ruku', it is also correct, but saying Takbir-e-Tahrima while standing is necessary in any case, while saying the Takbir for Ruku' after that is recommended and preferable.
Joining the Imam in Whatever State He Is In
A person joining the congregation should say Takbir-e-Tahrima and join the Imam in whatever state he finds him, because it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"إِذَا جِئْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَنَحْنُ سُجُودٌ فَاسْجُدُوا وَلَا تَعُدُّوهَا شَيْئًا"
"When you come to prayer and we are in prostration, then prostrate, but do not count it as a Rak'ah."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Prayer, Chapter: A man finds the Imam in prostration, Hadith 893
Performing the Remaining Prayer After the Imam's Salam
When the Imam says Salam on both sides, then the Masbuq (one who joined late) should stand up and complete his remaining prayer. It is not correct to stand up as soon as the Imam says Salam on one side, but it is obligatory to wait for the second Salam.
Reference: Note: Sarim
Status of Rak'ahs Performed with the Imam
According to the correct opinion, the Rak'ahs that the follower performs with the Imam will be counted as his initial Rak'ahs, and the Rak'ahs that he performs after the Imam's Salam will be his final Rak'ahs, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا"
"Complete the prayer that you have missed."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Chapter: Do not rush to prayer, Hadith 636
In another narration it is:
"وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَاقْضُوا"
"Offer the Qada of the prayer that you have missed."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood 573, Sunan al-Nasa'i 862
These two narrations are not contradictory, because here "Qada" does not mean the technical Qada, but to complete, as it is stated in the Holy Quran:
﴿فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ﴾
"And when the prayer has been concluded..."
Reference: Surah Al-Jumu'ah 62:10
And He said:
﴿فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمْ مَنَاسِكَكُمْ﴾
"When you have completed your rites [of Hajj]..."
Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:200
The recitation of the follower in a loud prayer
When the prayer is loud, 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﴾
"So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy."
Reference: Surah Al-A'raf 7:204
Imam Ahmad رحمه الله says that this verse was revealed about prayer and there is a consensus on this.
Reference: Majmu' al-Fatawa by Ibn Taymiyyah 22/295
The follower saying "Ameen" after the Imam's recitation is equivalent to recitation, as is clear from the story of Sayyidna Musa and Sayyidna Harun عليهما السلام:
﴿قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُمَا﴾
Reference: Surah Yunus 10:89
Although the supplication was made by Musa عليه السلام and Harun عليه السلام said Ameen.
Reference: Surah Yunus 10:88
Silent Prayer or in Case of Unreachable Voice
If the prayer is silent or the Imam's voice is not reaching the follower, then in this case the follower should recite Surah Al-Fatiha, this is the best way to reconcile.
Reference: Irshad al-Sari 2/402, Abu Zaid
Following the Imam and the Prohibition of Preceding Him
Among the important rules of congregational prayer is that the follower should completely follow the Imam. It is forbidden to precede the Imam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ"
"Doesn't the one who raises his head before the Imam fear that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey?"
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 691, Sahih Muslim 427, Musnad Ahmad 2/504
And he ﷺ said:
"إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ"
"The Imam is appointed to be followed."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood 603, Musnad Ahmad 2/341
Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه punished a person who preceded the Imam and said:
"You neither followed your Imam nor prayed with the congregation."
Reference: Majmu' al-Fatawa 3/337
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله states that preceding the Imam is unanimously forbidden according to all Imams.
Reference: Majmu' al-Fatawa 23/336
Conclusion
Preceding the Imam is a satanic temptation that disrupts the prayer. It has no benefit but rather entails severe warning. Every Muslim should be cautious in this matter and completely follow the Imam.
We ask Allah Almighty to grant us a correct understanding of the religion and to enable us to act upon its commands. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Acceptor.
