Catching a Rak'ah by Catching the Ruku'
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Question: If a man comes to the prayer and finds the imam in ruku' and bows with him, but does not recite al-Fatihah, what is the validity of this prayer?Because I heard that:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) , please inform us about this, and may you be rewarded.
Answer: Whoever comes while the imam is in ruku', he must say the takbirat al-ihram while
standing, then bow with the imam, and he will have caught the rak'ah, and reciting al-Fatihah is not obligatory on him in this case; because its time has passed, and his prayer is valid; because the place for reciting al-Fatihah is standing, and that has passed. So if he catches the imam in ruku' and bows with him, he will have caught the rak'ah and his prayer is valid, if Allah wills. The evidence for this is that Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) came while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in ruku', so he entered with him in ruku', and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order him to make up that rak'ah,Rather, he said to him:Sunan Abi Dawud 683Sahih (Al-Albani) ; because when he turned toward the row, he hurried and said the takbir before reaching the row, then he entered the row, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from hurrying when he comes while the imam is in ruku', rather he should come with calmness and tranquility,As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 602c ،And in a narration: , so what he rebuked him for was only the hurrying, and he did not order him to repeat the rak'ah that he caught with him, which indicates that whoever catches the imam in ruku' and bows with him will have caught the rak'ah. And this is what I heard from some people is a weak position, and the correct one is what we mentioned, and Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: And what about the hadith:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) ?
Answer: This is regarding the imam and the one praying alone, but as for the ma'mum, he must listen to his imam's recitation if he recites aloud, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-A'raf: 204] , so the ma'mum recites al-Fatihah in the pauses of his imam.
But if the imam recites aloud, it is obligatory for the ma'mums to listen and pay attention to the Qur'an; because the imam's recitation is for everyone, and Allah the Exalted knows best.
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابAnswer: Whoever comes while the imam is in ruku', he must say the takbirat al-ihram while
standing, then bow with the imam, and he will have caught the rak'ah, and reciting al-Fatihah is not obligatory on him in this case; because its time has passed, and his prayer is valid; because the place for reciting al-Fatihah is standing, and that has passed. So if he catches the imam in ruku' and bows with him, he will have caught the rak'ah and his prayer is valid, if Allah wills. The evidence for this is that Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) came while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in ruku', so he entered with him in ruku', and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order him to make up that rak'ah,Rather, he said to him:
May Allah increase your eagerness! But do not do it again.
زادك الله حرصًا ولا تعدWhen the call is made for prayer come to it walking with tranquillity, and pray what you are in time for, and complete what you have missed.
إذا سمعتم الإقامة فامشوا وعليكم السكينة، فما أدركتم فصلوا، وما فاتكم فأتمواAnd make up what you missed
وما فاتكم فاقضواQuestion: And what about the hadith:
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابAnswer: This is regarding the imam and the one praying alone, but as for the ma'mum, he must listen to his imam's recitation if he recites aloud, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَBut if the imam recites aloud, it is obligatory for the ma'mums to listen and pay attention to the Qur'an; because the imam's recitation is for everyone, and Allah the Exalted knows best.