What Is the Ruling Related to Latecomer in Prayer?

Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Question

How do latecomers in prayer complete their salah?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

A latecomer (masbuq) to prayer has different rulings regarding how they follow the imam and complete their prayer compared to one who is on time (muwafiq).

Definition of Masbuq

In Islamic jurisprudence, a “masbuq” is someone who has missed part or all of the prayer and joins the congregation after the start of the salah. The key points regarding how a masbuq should complete their prayer are as follows:

What Should the Masbuq Do After the Imam’s Salam?

According to the Shafi‘i school, if a masbuq has missed one or more units (rak‘as) of the prayer, they should follow the imam for the remainder of the congregational prayer and then complete the missed rak‘as afterward.

When Should the Masbuq Stand to Complete Their Prayer?

The Shafi’i scholars say it is recommended for the masbuq to wait until the imam has completed both salams (“As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah”) before standing up to make up for the missed rak‘as. However, if the masbuq stands up after the first salam alone, it is still valid. [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin and al-Majmu‘; Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina]

When Is a Rak‘a Counted for the Masbuq?

The scholars agree that if a masbuq catches up with the imam while the imam is in the bowing position (ruku‘), then they have caught that rak‘a, based on the hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace):

“Whoever catches the ruku‘ has caught the rak‘a.”

The Shafi‘is specify that this applies if the masbuq catches the imam while the imam is in a state of calmness (tum’anina) during the ruku‘, or if the masbuq reaches the minimum required bowing position before the imam rises from it. In this case, the rak‘a is counted for the masbuq. However, if the masbuq joins after the minimum bowing is completed, then that rak‘a is not counted for them, although they must still follow the imam in what remains. [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘]

What Is the Ruling on the Part of the Prayer the Masbuq Prays After the Imam’s Salams?

According to the Shafi‘i school, what the masbuq performs with the imam is considered the first part of their prayer, and whatever is made up after the imam’s salams is considered the latter part of the prayer. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace):

“Whatever part of the prayer you catch, pray it. And whatever you miss, complete it.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Completion only follows after the initial part of something. [Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj]

May Allah grant us success in learning the rulings of our religion so that our acts of worship are correct and pleasing to Him. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.

He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.

He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.

Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.