Clarification that the congregational prayer is not attained except by catching a unit of prayer
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Q256: The questioner says: A person prayed with the congregation and found them in the final tashahhud, so he sat with them. When the imam said the taslim, he said the taslim with them, then he established the prayer anew and prayed alone. Is his action valid, and is his catching the tashahhud considered catching the virtue of the congregation or not?
A256: The correct view is that the congregation is not attained except by catching a unit of prayer. However, if a person comes and the imam is in the final tashahhud, he should enter with him to obtain the reward, based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever comes and finds the imam in a certain state should be with him in that state, so he obtains the reward of following. As for the virtue of the congregation, the correct view among the scholars is that it is not obtained except by catching a complete unit of prayer. Therefore, if he enters with him in the final tashahhud, it is not permissible for him to say the taslim with the imam; rather, when the imam says the taslim, he must stand up and perform what he missed of the prayer, and it is not permissible for him to say the taslim. If he intentionally says the taslim with the imam, his prayer is invalid. However, if he says the taslim with the imam out of forgetfulness or ignorance, his prayer is valid, but he must perform the prostration for forgetfulness.
A256: The correct view is that the congregation is not attained except by catching a unit of prayer. However, if a person comes and the imam is in the final tashahhud, he should enter with him to obtain the reward, based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever comes and finds the imam in a certain state should be with him in that state, so he obtains the reward of following. As for the virtue of the congregation, the correct view among the scholars is that it is not obtained except by catching a complete unit of prayer. Therefore, if he enters with him in the final tashahhud, it is not permissible for him to say the taslim with the imam; rather, when the imam says the taslim, he must stand up and perform what he missed of the prayer, and it is not permissible for him to say the taslim. If he intentionally says the taslim with the imam, his prayer is invalid. However, if he says the taslim with the imam out of forgetfulness or ignorance, his prayer is valid, but he must perform the prostration for forgetfulness.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.