What should one do if the congregational Salah began while he was offering his Fard Salah alone?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

    What do the honourable scholars say regarding the following matter: A person is offering his Fard Salah in the Masjid and the congregation (Jama’at) is established. So, when should he join it? Please explain in detail.

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

    The cases of this are as follows:

1.       If he is in the first Rak’at, he should break his Salah by doing Salam towards one side while standing and join the congregation.

2.       If he has done the Sajdah of the first Rak’at and the congregation has been established, then in Fajr and Maghrib, he should do one Salam, end his Salah and join the congregation. In Zuhr, ‘Asr and Isha, he should complete two Rak’aat and then join the congregation.

3.       If he has done the Sajdah of the second Rak’at and the congregation has been established, then in Fajr and Maghrib, he will complete his Salah and not join the congregation. In Zuhr, ‘Asr and Isha, he will complete the two Rak’aat and join the congregation.

4.       If he is in the third Rak’at and the congregation was established, then in Zuhr, ‘Asr and Isha, he will end his Salah by doing one Salam while standing and then join the congregation. In Maghrib, he will complete his Salah and not join the congregation.

5.       If he has done the Sajdah of the third Rak’at and the congregation was established, then in Zuhr and Isha, he will complete his four Rak’aat and join the congregation with the intention of Nafl Salah. In ‘Asr, he will complete four Rak’aat and will not join the congregation, as Nafl Salah is not permissible after ‘Asr Salah.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by : Abu Ahmad Muhammad Anas Raza Attari

Verified by : Mufti Muhammad Hashim Khan Attari