What is prescribed for one who enters the mosque while the imam is in prayer is to enter with him
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Q: If two or more people enter the mosque while the imam is in the final tashahhud, do they enter with him and is the reward of congregational prayer due to them? Or do they wait until another congregation is established, since more than one congregation is established in the mosque?
A: It is prescribed for one who enters while the imam is in prayer to enter with him in any state he finds him, even if he is in the final tashahhud; due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 636 agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim, and the wording is al-Bukhari's. However, the one who joins the prayer late does not attain the reward of the congregation except by attaining one rak'ah or more, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Muwatta Malik 1:15. It was narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih.
However, one who is prevented from congregational prayer by a valid legal excuse, such as illness or otherwise, has his reward complete; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 2996 narrated by al-Bukhari. And due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding those who lagged behind the expedition to Tabuk because of an excuse: Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq 13:260 and in another wording: Sunan Ibn Majah 2765Sahih (Darussalam) The Companions said: O Messenger of Allah, and they were in the city? He said: and the hadiths on this are numerous.
A: It is prescribed for one who enters while the imam is in prayer to enter with him in any state he finds him, even if he is in the final tashahhud; due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When you hear the Iqama, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not make haste. And pray whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you have missed.
إذا سمعتم الإقامة فامشوا إلى الصلاة وعليكم بالسكينة والوقار ولا تسرعوا فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواWhoever catches a raka of the prayer has caught the prayer.
من أدرك ركعة من الصلاة فقد أدرك الصلاةHowever, one who is prevented from congregational prayer by a valid legal excuse, such as illness or otherwise, has his reward complete; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When a slave falls ill or travels, then he will get reward similar to that he gets for good deeds practiced at home when in good health.
إذا مرض العبد أو سافر كتب الله له مثل ما كان يعمل مقيما صحيحًاAnd you did not cross a valley except that they were with you, their excuse held them back
ولا قطعتم واديًا إلا وهمم معكم حبسهم العذرthey shared with you in the reward
إلا شركوكم في الأجرAnd they were in the city, their excuse held them back
وهم في المدينة حبسهم العذر
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.