If one is late for the Congregational prayer, how should he join the congregation?

Question:

 

A latecomer enters the Musjid when the Imam is in Sajdah. Should he join the congregation (Jama’ah) immediately or should he wait for the Imam to rise from Sajdah and join the congregation thereafter?

 

Answer:

 

A person should join the Imam immediately upon reaching the congregation regardless of which position the Imam may be in. The great Muhaddith, Abdullah ibn Mubarak Rahimahullah was of the opinion that; “If a person finds the Imam in Sajdah, he should join immediately. Perhaps, it is destined in that particular Sajdah that Allah pardon his sins”.

(Sunan Tirmizi, Hadith #: 594)

 

عن معاذ بن جبل قالا قال النبى -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « إذا أتى أحدكم الصلاة والإمام على حال فليصنع كما يصنع الإمام ». قال أبو عيسى هذا حديث غريب لا نعلم أحدا أسنده إلا ما روى من هذا الوجه. والعمل على هذا عند أهل العلم. قالوا إذا جاء الرجل والإمام ساجد فليسجد ولا تجزئه تلك الركعة إذا فاته الركوع مع الإمام واختار عبد الله بن المبارك أن يسجد مع الإمام وذكر عن بعضهم فقال لعله لا يرفع رأسه فى تلك السجدة حتى يغفر له.

 

And Allah Knows Best

 

Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed

 

Checked and Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Fatwa Department

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