"Whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of the prayer, then he has caught up with it."
Hadith Text & Reference
"Whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of the prayer, then he has caught up with it."
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 554 | The Book of the Times (of Prayer)
Meaning & Significance
This hadith establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic prayer jurisprudence. It means that if a person joins the congregational prayer (jama'ah) when the imam is still in the final Rak'ah, that person is considered to have attained the full reward of praying in congregation.
The "catching up" refers to being present during at least one complete cycle of standing, bowing, and prostrating with the imam before the prayer concludes with the Tasleem (salutation).
Juridical Ruling
According to the majority of scholars including Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, and Imam Ahmad, if one joins when the imam is in the final sitting (Tashahhud), they have not caught the Rak'ah. They must complete the missed Rak'ahs after the imam concludes.
The ruling applies to all obligatory prayers. The person completes whatever Rak'ahs they missed after the imam gives the final Tasleem.
Spiritual Wisdom
This ruling demonstrates Allah's mercy and makes it easier for Muslims to attain the great reward of congregational prayer, even when arriving late. It encourages haste to the mosque and participation in jama'ah regardless of how much prayer remains.
It teaches us about the importance of collective worship and that every effort to join the congregation is valued and rewarded by Allah Almighty.