If one catches up with the imam just as he is about to conclude the prayer, should he join him or wait for someone to pray with?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. Some scholars say that if you catch up with the imam just as he is about to conclude the prayer, and there is a congregation that will be held, it is better for you to wait for it. However, the apparent meaning of the hadith is that you should join the imam even if it is only for one concluding salam. Did they rely on evidence?
The Shaykh : This is the apparent meaning of the hadith: if you catch up before the salam by even a small amount, you should pray with him. However, the hadith does not state that you are with anyone else. So, if the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Muwatta Malik 1:15 and we know that this man came to the mosque and did not catch up with a single unit of the prayer, then he has missed the congregation. Now, he will catch up with another congregation, so it is better for him to leave this one in order to join another congregation.
The questioner : Adhering to the apparent meaning of the hadith, on the one hand, and catching up with the time, on the other.
The Shaykh : What time?
The questioner : The time of the prayer, hastening to it or being prompt for it.
The Shaykh : This is being prompt, because the time is wide. Yes, if we assume that the people praying are in the last part of the time, meaning the time ends when their prayer ends, then we would say it is obligatory for him.
The questioner : Does this mean that if he catches up...
The Shaykh : Yes, they are not praying the congregational prayer.
The questioner : So he leaves, O Shaykh, and goes to another mosque.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is what the brother Muhammad asked about.
The Shaykh : This is the apparent meaning of the hadith: if you catch up before the salam by even a small amount, you should pray with him. However, the hadith does not state that you are with anyone else. So, if the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever catches a raka of the prayer has caught the prayer.
من أدرك ركعة من الصلاة فقد أدرك الصلاةThe questioner : Adhering to the apparent meaning of the hadith, on the one hand, and catching up with the time, on the other.
The Shaykh : What time?
The questioner : The time of the prayer, hastening to it or being prompt for it.
The Shaykh : This is being prompt, because the time is wide. Yes, if we assume that the people praying are in the last part of the time, meaning the time ends when their prayer ends, then we would say it is obligatory for him.
The questioner : Does this mean that if he catches up...
The Shaykh : Yes, they are not praying the congregational prayer.
The questioner : So he leaves, O Shaykh, and goes to another mosque.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is what the brother Muhammad asked about.