Is it the case that one who catches the final tashahhud with the imam has caught the congregation, and is it better to join them or wait for another congregation to pray with?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. The questioner says: A man entered the mosque to perform the congregational prayer and caught the final tashahhud. Does he count as having caught the congregation, or should he pray with the congregation and wait for another congregation to arrive so he can pray with them?
The Shaykh : Yes, one who catches the imam in the final tashahhud: some scholars held that he has caught the congregation and is entitled to the virtue of the congregation. However, the correct view is that he has not caught the congregation and is not entitled to the virtue of the congregation. But catching a part of the prayer with the imam is better than missing it entirely. The evidence that he does not catch the congregation is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Muwatta Malik 1:15 The implication is that one who catches less than a rak'ah has not caught it. However, we say that if a person is delayed from the congregational prayer for an excuse and it was his habit to pray it, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Therefore, if a person falls ill and is unable to pray with the congregation, and it was his habit to pray with the congregation, then if he prays in his home, the full reward of the congregation is recorded for him. Yes.
The questioner : He says, or.
The Shaykh : Regarding the final part, he asks: If one catches the imam in the final tashahhud, does he join him or wait for the congregation? We say: If he does not know whether a congregation will be present or not, he should join the imam, as catching some of it is better than missing it all. But if he knows that a congregation will be present because they are with him in the bathrooms, he should wait until these people arrive. Likewise, if they entered with him as a congregation, he should wait until the imam says the taslim, and then they pray as a congregation. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, one who catches the imam in the final tashahhud: some scholars held that he has caught the congregation and is entitled to the virtue of the congregation. However, the correct view is that he has not caught the congregation and is not entitled to the virtue of the congregation. But catching a part of the prayer with the imam is better than missing it entirely. The evidence that he does not catch the congregation is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever catches a raka of the prayer has caught the prayer.
من أدرك ركعة من الصلاة فقد أدرك الصلاةThat whoever falls ill or travels is recorded as having done what he used to do while healthy and resident.
أن من مرض أو سافر كتب له ما كان يعمل صحيحا مقيماThe questioner : He says, or.
The Shaykh : Regarding the final part, he asks: If one catches the imam in the final tashahhud, does he join him or wait for the congregation? We say: If he does not know whether a congregation will be present or not, he should join the imam, as catching some of it is better than missing it all. But if he knows that a congregation will be present because they are with him in the bathrooms, he should wait until these people arrive. Likewise, if they entered with him as a congregation, he should wait until the imam says the taslim, and then they pray as a congregation. Yes.