The detailed ruling on one who catches up with the imam in the last rak'ah or in the tashahhud
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Is it better for a person, if he enters the mosque and the imam is in the last rak'ah or in the final tashahhud, to join the imam or to wait until someone comes so he can pray with them?
This requires a detailed explanation: If he arrives at the mosque and the imam is in the final tashahhud, if there is someone with him, meaning someone around him who will pray with him, he should wait. If there is no one around him, let him join the imam; because catching up with part of the prayer is better than not catching up with it.
As for if he will catch up with a complete rak'ah, he should not wait for anyone; because (whoever catches up with a rak'ah of the prayer has caught up with the prayer).
This requires a detailed explanation: If he arrives at the mosque and the imam is in the final tashahhud, if there is someone with him, meaning someone around him who will pray with him, he should wait. If there is no one around him, let him join the imam; because catching up with part of the prayer is better than not catching up with it.
As for if he will catch up with a complete rak'ah, he should not wait for anyone; because (whoever catches up with a rak'ah of the prayer has caught up with the prayer).