What is the ruling on a traveler who catches two rak'ahs with the imam? Does he complete the prayer or is he satisfied with them?

Question : The questioner says: If I am traveling and I catch the imam at the third rak'ah, and I pray two rak'ahs with him, do I say the taslim when the imam says it because I am a traveler?

Answer : If a person is a traveler and catches the imam at the beginning of the prayer, it is obligatory for him to complete the prayer with the imam. Likewise, if he catches the imam in the middle of the prayer, it is obligatory for him to make up what he missed with the imam. If the imam is in the third rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer, it is obligatory for him to pray two rak'ahs with the imam, and when the imam says the taslim, he completes his prayer with two rak'ahs as well. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): The phrase "make up what you missed" is general for travelers and non-travelers alike. It is also narrated from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that this is the Sunnah.