Continuing in Supplication When the Call to Prayer is Made

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, if a man is making supplication and the call to prayer is made, does he continue in his supplication or does he stop it?

The Shaykh:
When the call to prayer is made, he should prepare to enter the prayer. Since there is no specific supplication prescribed for this situation, he does not continue in his supplication; rather, he prepares for the prayer and stands for it. Some people sit and make supplication, and they miss the opening takbir, or they miss standing with the imam, reciting al-Fatihah, and listening to the Qur'an, and they only count the bowing. They say, "For the sake of the bowing, I will stand and be there." This is a mistake. He should stand and enter with the imam from the beginning of the prayer and participate with the imam; this is better than sitting and making supplication. As for the iqamah, following the mu'adhdhin and saying words like his is better than supplication. No, this has not been reported. Imam Ahmad was asked, "Do you say something after the iqamah?" He said, "No," because nothing was preserved from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.

Another questioner:
The prayer, meaning we proceed until he appears.

The Shaykh:
If he catches the bowing, it is not invalidated, but he has missed a great reward. As long as he catches the bowing, his prayer is not invalidated. Yes. What did he miss?

Another questioner:
If you do it.

The Shaykh:
The ma'mum is not required to recite al-Fatihah; the imam's recitation is sufficient. Yes.

Another questioner:
If he is present in the mosque and it is intentional, meaning.

The Shaykh:
If he catches the bowing, then he has caught the unit of prayer, but he has missed entering the prayer with the imam, and he has missed the opening takbir, and he has missed listening to the recitation of the Qur'an, and Allah the Exalted says: He has missed many good things. Yes.