A traveler finds the imam in the last two rak'ahs: does he conclude the prayer shortened or complete the four?

The questioner : You are a traveler, right? You came to the people of a village and found them praying 'Asr or the four-rak'ah prayer, and you found them in the last two rak'ahs. Do you conclude the prayer or complete it? What is the evidence for this?

The Shaykh : The answer is that if a traveler follows a resident, his prayer becomes the prayer of a resident. So if this traveler catches up with the imam before the taslim, and then the imam concludes the prayer and the follower stands up, he must complete the prayer in its fullness and perfection. This is because it is narrated in Sahih Muslim and the Musnad of Imam Ahmad from the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he was asked about a person from outside the city who prays shortened in his tent; if he prays here, how does he pray? Meaning, in Makkah behind the imam. He said: "He prays completely, following the sunnah of Abu al-Qasim (peace and blessings be upon him)." This is an explicit text in this issue, and it is supported by the generality of his (peace and blessings be upon him) statement, which is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim:The Shaykh : "The imam is appointed to be followed." So if the traveler follows the resident, his prayer becomes the prayer of a resident, and he must complete it, even if he missed all the rak'ahs, as we mentioned. May Allah reward you.