If a worshiper joins the congregational prayer in the last rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer, does he perform the first rak'ah, then the second and third, in order?
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The questioner : If a worshiper joins the congregational prayer in the last rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer, does he perform the first rak'ah, then the second and third, in order? Also, I have heard many of the worshippers reciting from the short surahs along with al-Fatihah in the third and fourth rak'ahs of the four-rak'ah prayer. Is this addition permissible? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with all good.
The Shaykh : The first question... from the question, ... the question?
The questioner : If a worshiper joins the congregational prayer in the last rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Does he perform the first rak'ah, then the second and third, in order? Also, I have heard many of the worshippers reciting from the short surahs along with al-Fatihah in the third and fourth rak'ahs of the four-rak'ah prayer. He asks: Is this addition permissible?
The Shaykh : His question includes two issues. The first issue is: if a latecomer joins the imam in the fourth rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer, what does he do? The answer is: if a latecomer joins the imam, what he catches up with his imam is the beginning of his prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:329 And this phrase: explains the meaning of the other phrase: and clarifies that the intended meaning of making up (qada') is completing, as is known in the Arabic language, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Fussilat 41:12] meaning He completed them. And if what the latecomer makes up is the end of his prayer, then if he catches up with the imam in the third or fourth rak'ah and is able to recite a surah after al-Fatihah, let him do so, because this is the beginning of his prayer. And if he catches up with one rak'ah of a three-rak'ah or four-rak'ah prayer, he performs one rak'ah after the imam, then sits for the first tashahhud, then stands and performs the remainder of his prayer: two rak'ahs if the prayer is four-rak'ah, and one rak'ah if it is three-rak'ah.
As for the second issue, he mentioned that he hears some people reciting a short surah after al-Fatihah in the third and fourth rak'ahs of the four-rak'ah prayer, and he asks: Is this permissible? The answer is that this is permissible and there is no harm in it, especially if the imam prolongs the last two rak'ahs, either because he recites al-Fatihah with more deliberation than the follower, so the follower finishes before the imam completes the recitation of al-Fatihah. In that case, there is no blame on the follower if he recites a short surah after al-Fatihah until his imam bows. Indeed, even the imam and the one praying alone have no harm in sometimes reciting more than al-Fatihah in the last two rak'ahs of Dhuhr or 'Asr, although it should be that most of the time he does not recite in the last two rak'ahs except al-Fatihah only. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
This is a message we received from the listener Ashraf Rajab Khalifa from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sohag Governorate. He says in his message.
The Shaykh : The first question... from the question, ... the question?
The questioner : If a worshiper joins the congregational prayer in the last rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Does he perform the first rak'ah, then the second and third, in order? Also, I have heard many of the worshippers reciting from the short surahs along with al-Fatihah in the third and fourth rak'ahs of the four-rak'ah prayer. He asks: Is this addition permissible?
The Shaykh : His question includes two issues. The first issue is: if a latecomer joins the imam in the fourth rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer, what does he do? The answer is: if a latecomer joins the imam, what he catches up with his imam is the beginning of his prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
If you hear the Iqamah, you must walk to the prayer (place) with tranquility and dignity, and do not hasten; and whatever portion of the prayer you get (along with the Imam) offer it, and complete afterwards whatever you missed.
إذا سمعتم الإقامة فامشوا إلى الصلاة وعليكم السكينة والوقار فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواSo complete it
فأتمواAnd make up what you missed
وما فاتكم فاقضواAnd He completed them as seven heavens within two days
فَقَضَاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِAs for the second issue, he mentioned that he hears some people reciting a short surah after al-Fatihah in the third and fourth rak'ahs of the four-rak'ah prayer, and he asks: Is this permissible? The answer is that this is permissible and there is no harm in it, especially if the imam prolongs the last two rak'ahs, either because he recites al-Fatihah with more deliberation than the follower, so the follower finishes before the imam completes the recitation of al-Fatihah. In that case, there is no blame on the follower if he recites a short surah after al-Fatihah until his imam bows. Indeed, even the imam and the one praying alone have no harm in sometimes reciting more than al-Fatihah in the last two rak'ahs of Dhuhr or 'Asr, although it should be that most of the time he does not recite in the last two rak'ahs except al-Fatihah only. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
This is a message we received from the listener Ashraf Rajab Khalifa from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sohag Governorate. He says in his message.