Fiqh of the Latecomer in Salat

[Sad ibn Abu Waqqas]

In the name of Allah, with peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah,



Could someone please clarify the fiqh of the person who comes late to congregational salat for me? The Sunni Path Q&A service is down, and I have been getting confused as to exactly what I should be doing when I come in the middle of the second rakat of maghrib, for example.

Wa al-Salam,

[ridhwan]

Ruling for the Masbooq ( Latecomer )

Masbooq is one who joins the jama't after the first Ruku has been performed.

1. Masbooq will follow Imam and then complete any Rakats that were missed. In final Qadah, Masbooq will recite only Attahiyyat and then remain silent (i.e. will not read Durood&Dua)

2. After the Jama't has ended and the Imam makes the second Salaam, the masbooq will arise and perform those missed Rakats.

3. He will perform the missed Rakats in order. In terms of RECITATION the order will be as follows: Firstly what is recited in Rakat number one, then two and so on.

In terms of SITTINGS (Qa'dah) the order will be as follows: The total Rakats performed with the Imam will be adjusted with the remainder of the Rakats ( by way of placing the number of the performed Rakats with Imam in front of the missed Rakats) and Qa'dah will then be performed in every second Rakat and in the final Rakat ( as per normal Salah )

To explain taking your requested example of Maghrib.

Scenario 1) If you joined prior to the completion of the second Ruku you will be considered to have joined the second Rakat

Now when the Imam makes the second Salaam, you have to perform the missed number of Rakats, which in this case is ONE as you performed the Ruku (of the second Rakat) with the Imam. The Rakats which you performed with the Imam were thus Rakat Number Two and Number Three.

So the missed Rakat is the first Rakat of Maghrib Salah which consists of:

In terms of RECITATION

A. Thana (SubhanakAllah)
B. Ta'awuz (A'ooZu)
C. Tasmia (Bismillah)
D. Al-Fatiha
E. Tasmia (Bismillah - if reciting from beginning of Sura)
F. Sura (or equivalent of three short ayats)
G. Next is Ruku & Sujood

In terms of SITTINGS

You will adjust the TWO rakats that you performed with the Imam and since you have already performed TWO rakat of Maghrib, this is your 3rd and final Rakat.

H. So you will end the Salah with final sitting (i.e. Attihiyyat, Durood, Dua) and Salaams

To recap, the above is for joining Salah whilst Imam is still in Ruku of second Rakat.

Scenario b) If you joined after completion of the second Ruku you will be considered to have joined the third Rakat

Now when the Imam makes the second Salaam, you have to perform the missed number of Rakats, which in this case is TWO as you missed the Ruku (of the second Rakat) with the Imam (but performed the Ruku of Third Rakat with the Imam).

Thus the Rakat which you performed with the Imam is in this case only Number Three.

So the missed Rakats in this case is the first and second Rakats of Maghrib Salah which consist of:

In Terms of RECITATION

In your 1st Rakat you will recite:

A. Thana (SubhanakAllah)
B. Ta'awuz (A'ooZu)
C. Tasmia (Bismillah)
D. Al-Fatiha
E. Tasmia (Bismillah - if reciting from beginning of Sura)
F. Sura (or equivalent of three short ayats)
G. Next is Ruku & Sujood

In Terms of SITTINGS

Since you have performed ONE Rakat with the Imam already then this is your SECOND Rakat (in terms of sittings)

H. So after performing A-G above, you will consider this your first sitting and sit for Tashahud and read upto Attihiyyat only
I. Then arise and complete the next Rakat ( THIRD in terms of Sitting and SECOND in terms of RECITATION)

In Terms of RECITATION

Since this is your SECOND Rakat in terms of RECITATION

J. You will perform C to G above (i.e Tasmia, al-Fatiha, Tasmia, Sura) then Ruku, Sujood

In Terms of SITTINGS

K. Since this is your Third rakat ( ONE Performed with Imam plus TWO missed) therefore you will end the Salah now with final sitting (i.e. Attihiyyat, Durood, Dua) and Salaams

To recap, the above is for joining Salah after the Ruku of second Rakat.


Rules Regarding Errors of Masbooq

5. If the Masbooq makes any mistake (unknowingly/forgetfully) whilst fulfiliing the missed Rakats regarding the Wajib factors of Salah then the error must be rectified with Sajdah-Sahw (remedial prostration) in the last Rakat.

6. If the Masbooq erroneously made the Salaams with the Imaam. Sajdah Sahw is made for this error. The Masbooq should rise immediately after he realises the error and complete his Salaat.

7. Joining the Jamaat after Salaam has been made is not valid. One will have to re-perform the Salaat afresh

8. For a person who joins the Jama'at when the Imam is in RUKU, it is FARD to stand and recite Takbir -e- Tahrima and thereafter to stand at least for the duration long enough in which SUBHANALLAH could be recited once and then go into Ruku. Reciting Takbeer -e- Tahrima and going into Ruku without PAUSE is not permissible. The Salah performed in such a way will not be VALID and should be REPEATED.

Summary

In essence, one has to understand to differentiate between order of RECITATION and SITTINGS together with making adjustment for the number of Rakats performed with the Imam. If you can do that then you will be able to deduce what must be recited and when you sit accordingly regardless of which Salaah it is or when you joined it.

Apologies if the above is confusing. I'm sure it will be if one has not done it in practice a number of times. If you require clarification on anything, please don't hesitate to ask. Perhaps someone can explain it better ( or refer to explanation in Taleemul Haqq [What is a Masbooq] which is in different wording to what I've explained above )

Ref: Various

Wallahu Aalam

[Yusuf]

8. For a person who joins the Jama'at when the Imam is in RUKU, it is FARD to stand and recite Takbir -e- Tahrima and thereafter to stand at least for the duration long enough in which SUBHANALLAH could be recited once and then go into Ruku. Reciting Takbeer -e- Tahrima and going into Ruku without PAUSE is not permissible. The Salah performed in such a way will not be VALID and should be REPEATED.

I thought the wajib is to just recite "Allahu akbar" and nothing more? I guess it's because Qiyam, it self, is fard in each raka'ah?

[mishor]

What about when someone joins in the fourth rak'at of say zhur.
After the imam finishes the salaah does the person get up and pray one rak'at then tashahud or two rak'ats and then tashahud.

I hope my question is clear!

[ridhwan]

I thought the wajib is to just recite "Allahu akbar" and nothing more? I guess it's because Qiyam, it self, is fard in each raka'ah?

Aswell as the Qiyam, the initial Takbir ( Takbir -e- Tahrima) is Fard (refer: Taleemul Haqq etc)

Obmission of it would require a repetition of the entire Salaah. A Wajib act left out (accidentally) can be remedied by Sajda-Sahw but not the Takbir -e- Tahrima.

edit: Perhaps you are referring to the obligation of standing in Qiyam, i.e. length of one SubhanAllah. Then yes to establish that the Qiyam has indeed been performed then one must pause in Qiyam for at least that much. If one did not do so and after saying Takbir -e- Tahrima immediately went in Ruku then this will necessitate them to repeat the Salaah.

Also if one joins the Salaah (assuming they have performed Takbir & Qiyam) and goes into Ruku whilst the Imam is rising, then this will be counted as a missed Rakat.

Wallahu Aalam

[ridhwan]

What about when someone joins in the fourth rak'at of say zhur.
After the imam finishes the salaah does the person get up and pray one rak'at then tashahud or two rak'ats and then tashahud.

I hope my question is clear!

If the joining is after the Ruku of the fourth Rakat, you will read the entire Salaah in full as normal (after arising when the Imam says the second Salaam). So in this case the Tashahud would fall after two Rakats.

If the joining is before (or during) the Ruku of the fourth Rakat, then the format will be as follows, after arising when the Imam says the second Salaam:

1st Rakat: Thana, Ta'awuz, Tasmia, al-Fatiha, Tasmia (if reciting from beginning of Sura), Sura, Ruku & Sujood then Tashahud

2nd Rakat: Tasmia, al-Fatiha, Tasmia (if applicable), Sura, Ruku & Sujood then stand up

3rd Rakat: Tasmia, al-Fatiha (also I believe it is permissible for one to remain silent - best confirmed), Ruku, Sujood, Final Rakat so Tashahud, Salaams.

So in this case your first rakat will consist of Tashahud.

Hope that's clear

Please confirm with scholar though.

Wallahu Aalam

[mishor]

If the joining is after the Ruku of the fourth Rakat, you will read the entire Salaah in full as normal (after arising when the Imam says the second Salaam). So in this case the Tashahud would fall after two Rakats.

If the joining is before (or during) the Ruku of the fourth Rakat, then the format will be as follows, after arising when the Imam says the second Salaam:

1st Rakat: Thana, Ta'awuz, Tasmia, al-Fatiha, Tasmia (if reciting from beginning of Sura), Sura, Ruku & Sujood then Tashahud

2nd Rakat: Tasmia, al-Fatiha, Tasmia (if applicable), Sura, Ruku & Sujood then stand up

3rd Rakat: Tasmia, al-Fatiha (also I believe it is permissible for one to remain silent - best confirmed), Ruku, Sujood, Final Rakat so Tashahud, Salaams.

So in this case your first rakat will consist of Tashahud.

Hope that's clear

Please confirm with scholar though.

Wallahu Aalam

bro!
Just to be on the safe side can a SF scholar confirm the above.

[mospike]

Dear Brothers

Some of the stuff above is lets just say not clear, i advise you visit the following link www.alislam.co.za
Under the Fiqh section, there is a book called how to make up missed rakaats , download it and read.

Inshallah it ans most of your questions

[ridhwan]

brother for posting Mufti Afzal Elias's (damat barakatuhu) site. Unfortunately it appears that it is not working for some reason. If you could provide an alternative source or attach the book to your post it would be best

If anyone is confused you may alternatively refer to Mufti Taqi Usmani's reply regarding the issue of Joining Salaah. In addition for those wishing to learn about Salah in general; may wish to read How to Perform Salah Correctly

I recently asked an aalim ( non Mufti ) regarding the Masbooq when they join in the Ruku near to when the Imam is rising (i.e. person just entered Ruku and the Imam starts to rise). They mentioned that one should be in Ruku with the Imam for duration of one SubhanAllah otherwise it will be a missed Rakat. If a scholar can confirm this for benefit of the board members, I would appreciate it

Just to recap, if a person can remember two rules then to know how to perform missed rakats is very easy and doesn't need any lengthy elaboration

1. In terms of recitation we begin our first missed rakat in manner we would when starting a normal Salah from our very first rakat and continue in likewise manner (such that our second missed rakat would be like second normal rakat and third like third [remember this is in regards to what we recite] )

2. In terms of whether we sit for Tashahud or not; we begin our first missed rakat continuing from the number of rakats we have performed with the Imam already.

Wallahu Aalam