Is it obligatory to rush to the congregational prayer if, upon arriving, I find that the prayer has ended or I only catch the end of it?

The questioner : Sometimes the time for the iqamah arrives while we are at home, and if I reach the mosque, the prayer may have already ended. Is it permissible for me to pray at home?

The Shaykh : Excuse me, I did not understand.

The questioner : I mean, the time for prayer has arrived and I am at home.

The Shaykh : Are you a traveler or a resident?

The questioner : No, no, I am a resident in my country.

The Shaykh : A resident, okay.

The questioner : The time for prayer arrives and I am at home, and by the time I get out of the car and reach the mosque, the prayer has started and ended. So I pray at home, is that known to be acceptable, or should I catch up with the prayer, whatever part of it I manage to catch?

The Shaykh : If you are able to catch up with the congregation with the imam, even before the taslim, you must do so.

The questioner : I should hurry.

The Shaykh : Yes, hurry. Even if you catch the imam before his taslim. In other words, if you are confident that you will catch the congregation, even before the imam’s taslim, it is obligatory for you to rush to it. Is that clear?

The questioner : Yes, yes.

The Shaykh: All right.