The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When you hear the Iqama, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not make haste. And pray whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you have missed.
Call to Prayers (Adhaan)
Sahih al-Bukhari 636
Hadith Text
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When you hear the Iqama, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not make haste. And pray whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you have missed."
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith contains two essential injunctions regarding the congregational prayer. First, the command to proceed with calmness (sakina) and solemnity (waqar) when the second call (iqama) is announced. This prohibits rushing hastily to join the prayer, for haste disturbs the heart's presence before Allah and may lead to missing the opening takbir.
Second, the instruction to "pray whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you have missed" provides guidance for one who joins the congregation after it has commenced. Such a person should calmly join the imam in whatever position he finds him, then after the imam concludes the prayer, the follower should stand and complete the rak'ahs he missed.
The wisdom behind this teaching is to preserve the spiritual quality of prayer and ensure its proper performance, rather than merely catching the congregation physically while neglecting the prayer's spiritual requirements and proper form.