Chapter: Rulings Concerning the Latecomer (al-masbūq)

The sounder of the two scholarly views is that a latecomer is counted as having caught the congregational prayer only if he manages to perform a full rakʿah. Should he arrive after less than a rakʿah, he is not deemed to have caught the congregation. Nevertheless, he should still join the imam in whatever remains, and, by virtue of his intention, he is granted the reward of the congregation—just as the one who comes after the prayer has finished yet resolves to pray in congregation receives that same reward. Numerous hadiths confirm that whoever intends a good deed but is unable to carry it out is still credited with the full reward of the one who actually performs it.

According to the stronger opinion, a rakʿah is counted if the worshipper joins the bowing (rukūʿ). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever catches the bowing has caught the rakʿah,” recorded by Abū Dāwūd. Likewise, in the Ṣaḥīḥ it is related that Abū Bakrah arrived while the Prophet ﷺ was in rukūʿ; he bowed before reaching the row, and the Prophet ﷺ did not command him to repeat the rakʿah, which shows that it was accepted.

Therefore, if a latecomer finds the imam already in rukūʿ, he should pronounce the opening takbīr (takbīrat al-iḥrām) while standing upright, and then bow