Is it preferable for the one who joins the prayer late, if he finds the imam in the final tashahhud, to join him or to wait for someone to pray with?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Is it preferable 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 him?
The Shaykh : This requires a detailed explanation: If he comes to 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 part of the prayer is better than catching none of it.
As for if he will catch a complete rak'ah, he should not wait for anyone, becauseMuwatta Malik 1:15.
The Shaykh : This requires a detailed explanation: If he comes to 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 part of the prayer is better than catching none of it.
As for if he will catch a complete rak'ah, he should not wait for anyone, because