Catching up with the congregation behind the imam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The third question of Fatwa No. ( 18912 )
Q3: If I arrive and the imam is in the final tashahhud, do I join him or do I stay until he says the taslim and wait for a second congregation, or look for another congregation? And if I join, what is the ruling?
A3: It is preferable to join the first congregation, even if the imam is in
the final tashahhud, unless you are convinced that another congregation will begin praying with them after the first congregation finishes, in which case there is no harm in waiting for it. If you join the first congregation after the imam has risen from the last rak'ah and you hear a congregation being called to prayer after the first congregation has finished, it is permissible for you to convert the prayer to a voluntary one and then join the second congregation after you have finished it. However, if you catch up with the first congregation for a rak'ah or more, it is not permissible for you to change the intention of the obligatory prayer to a voluntary one in order to pray with the second congregation, due to the superiority of the first prayer. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q3: If I arrive and the imam is in the final tashahhud, do I join him or do I stay until he says the taslim and wait for a second congregation, or look for another congregation? And if I join, what is the ruling?
A3: It is preferable to join the first congregation, even if the imam is in
the final tashahhud, unless you are convinced that another congregation will begin praying with them after the first congregation finishes, in which case there is no harm in waiting for it. If you join the first congregation after the imam has risen from the last rak'ah and you hear a congregation being called to prayer after the first congregation has finished, it is permissible for you to convert the prayer to a voluntary one and then join the second congregation after you have finished it. However, if you catch up with the first congregation for a rak'ah or more, it is not permissible for you to change the intention of the obligatory prayer to a voluntary one in order to pray with the second congregation, due to the superiority of the first prayer. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.