If one enters the mosque and the congregation is in the tashahhud, should he wait or join the congregation?
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Fatwa number ( 4397 )
Q: My problem is that I once went to the mosque for the 'Asr prayer
and found that the worshippers had completed three rak'ahs and had begun the last one, having already prostrated. Should I catch up with them or wait until they finish?
A: What is prescribed in a case like yours is to catch up with them. Pray what you catch up with them, and make up what you missed. If you catch up with them after they have risen from the ruku' of the last rak'ah, join them and make up your entire prayer after the imam's taslim. This is based on what Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 893Hasan (Al-Albani). And based on the generality of what the two Shaykhs, al-Bukhari and Muslim (may Allah have mercy on them both), narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 861Sahih (Darussalam). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: My problem is that I once went to the mosque for the 'Asr prayer
and found that the worshippers had completed three rak'ahs and had begun the last one, having already prostrated. Should I catch up with them or wait until they finish?
A: What is prescribed in a case like yours is to catch up with them. Pray what you catch up with them, and make up what you missed. If you catch up with them after they have risen from the ruku' of the last rak'ah, join them and make up your entire prayer after the imam's taslim. This is based on what Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
when you come to pray while we are prostrating ourselves, you must prostrate yourselves, and do not reckon it anything (rak’ah) he has been present at the prayer.
إذا جئتم إلى الصلاة ونحن سجود فاسجدوا ولا تعدوها شيئًا، ومن أدرك الركعة فقد أدرك الصلاةWhen you come to pray, do not come rushing; come walking in a dignified manner, and whatever you catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, make it up.
إذا أتيتم الصلاة فلا تأتوها وأنتم تسعون وعليكم السكينة والوقار فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتموا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.