Sitting with the Imam in the Final Tashahhud: Does One Receive the Reward of Congregation?
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Q: A person entered the prayer while the people were sitting in the final tashahhud, and he sat with them. After the imam said the taslim, he completed his prayer. Does he receive the reward of congregation?
A: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 572Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani).
Therefore, it is prescribed for the masbuq, if he arrives while the people are sitting for the final tashahhud, to enter with them. He should first say the takbir while standing, the takbir of ihram, then sit and recite the tashahhud with them. When the imam says the two taslims, he stands up and makes up his prayer, completing it.
As for the reward of congregation, there is a detail in this. If he was excused by a legitimate religious excuse, such as needing to relieve himself, or going to perform wudu, or being occupied by a matter he could not avoid, then he receives the reward of congregation. This is because the one excused by a legitimate religious excuse is ruled as one who was present. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 2996, narrated by al-Bukhari in the Sahih. And based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the expedition of Tabuk: Sahih al-Bukhari 4423, and in another wording: Sunan Ibn Majah 2765Sahih (Darussalam). They said: “O Messenger of Allah, and they are in Madinah?” He said: , and in another wording: .
This indicates that the one who is prevented by a legitimate religious excuse receives the reward of the one who performed the act in a legitimate manner.
However, if he was late due to negligence, he does not receive the virtue of congregation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Muwatta Malik 1:15, meaning he caught the virtue of congregation. If he did not catch the rak'ah, he does not have the virtue of congregation, except for one who has a legitimate religious excuse, as mentioned above.
A: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When the iqamah is pronounced for prayer, do not come to it running, but come walking(slowly). You should observe tranquility. The part of the prayer you get(along with the imam) offer it, and the part you miss complete it(afterwards).
إذا أقيمت الصلاة فلا تأتوها تسعون وأتوها تمشون وعليكم السكينة فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواTherefore, it is prescribed for the masbuq, if he arrives while the people are sitting for the final tashahhud, to enter with them. He should first say the takbir while standing, the takbir of ihram, then sit and recite the tashahhud with them. When the imam says the two taslims, he stands up and makes up his prayer, completing it.
As for the reward of congregation, there is a detail in this. If he was excused by a legitimate religious excuse, such as needing to relieve himself, or going to perform wudu, or being occupied by a matter he could not avoid, then he receives the reward of congregation. This is because the one excused by a legitimate religious excuse is ruled as one who was present. This is based on 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 مقيمًا صحيحًاThere are some people in Medina who were with you all the time, you did not travel any portion of the journey nor crossed any valley, but they were with you
إن في المدينة أقوامًا ما سرتم مسيرًا ولا قطعتم واديًا إلا وهم معكمthey shared with you in the reward
إلا شركوكم في الأجرAnd they were in the city, their excuse held them back
وهم في المدينة حبسهم العذرIllness prevented them.
حبسهمم المرضThis indicates that the one who is prevented by a legitimate religious excuse receives the reward of the one who performed the act in a legitimate manner.
However, if he was late due to negligence, he does not receive the virtue of congregation. The Prophet (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 الصلاة
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.