Published in: Shumara al-Sunnah, Jhelum
Question:
If someone joins the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) after the Imam has already said two Takbīrs, what should they do?
Answer:
One should perform the portion of the funeral prayer that they catch with the Imam, and after the Imam concludes the prayer with salām, they should complete the remaining Takbīrs.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا أقيمت الصلاة ، فلا تأتوها تسعون ، وأتوها تمشون وعليكم السكينة ، فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وما فاتكم فأتموا
“When the prayer is established, do not run to it, but walk calmly and with tranquility. Whatever you catch, pray, and complete what you missed afterward.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 908, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 602]
فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وماسبقكم فأتموا
“Whatever part of the prayer you catch, perform it; and whatever you missed, complete it afterward.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 635, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 603 — wording by Muslim]
إذا جاء أحدكم إلى الصلاة ، فليمش على هينته ، فليصل ما أدرك ، وليقض ماسبقه
“When one of you comes to the prayer, let him walk calmly. He should perform what he catches and make up what he missed.”
[Musnad Aḥmad: 3/106, Musnad Abī Yaʿlā: 6/436, Ḥadīth: 3814 — Authentic chain]
The general instruction in these authentic narrations indicates that whoever joins the funeral prayer after it has begun should:
① Pray what they catch with the Imam
② Complete the missed Takbīrs after the Imam concludes with salām
This ruling ensures the completeness of participation in Salat al-Janazah even for latecomers.
Question:
If someone joins the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) after the Imam has already said two Takbīrs, what should they do?
Answer:
One should perform the portion of the funeral prayer that they catch with the Imam, and after the Imam concludes the prayer with salām, they should complete the remaining Takbīrs.
Prophetic Guidance:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:إذا أقيمت الصلاة ، فلا تأتوها تسعون ، وأتوها تمشون وعليكم السكينة ، فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وما فاتكم فأتموا
“When the prayer is established, do not run to it, but walk calmly and with tranquility. Whatever you catch, pray, and complete what you missed afterward.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 908, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 602]
Narration from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه:
فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وماسبقكم فأتموا“Whatever part of the prayer you catch, perform it; and whatever you missed, complete it afterward.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 635, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 603 — wording by Muslim]
Narration from Sayyiduna Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
إذا جاء أحدكم إلى الصلاة ، فليمش على هينته ، فليصل ما أدرك ، وليقض ماسبقه
“When one of you comes to the prayer, let him walk calmly. He should perform what he catches and make up what he missed.”
[Musnad Aḥmad: 3/106, Musnad Abī Yaʿlā: 6/436, Ḥadīth: 3814 — Authentic chain]
Conclusion:
The general instruction in these authentic narrations indicates that whoever joins the funeral prayer after it has begun should:① Pray what they catch with the Imam
② Complete the missed Takbīrs after the Imam concludes with salām
This ruling ensures the completeness of participation in Salat al-Janazah even for latecomers.
