[Q 421] Imam Finishes Before Muqtadi Joins, Muqtadi Misses Full Rak’ah, No Valid Iqtida Without Joining Imam

QUESTION:

If muqtadi does takbeer tehrima stood for 1 tasbeeh imam does salam is his salah valid

ANSWER:

In order for the Iqtida (i.e., following the Imam) to be valid, it is necessary to join the Imam in at least some part of the prayer. Therefore, if someone said Takbeer Tehrima (the opening Allahu Akbar) but had not yet joined the Imam in Tashahhud (sitting position) when the Imam concluded the prayer with Salaam, then in this case, the Iqtida is not valid—because the Imam completed his prayer and exited it by saying Salaam before the follower could join him.

For such a worshipper, the ruling is that he must say Takbeer Tehrima again and perform the prayer anew.

‘Allamah Shami رحمه الله تعالى writes:

بِأَنَّهَا اتِّبَاعُ الْإِمَامِ فِي جُزْءٍ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ
(That it is to follow the Imam in some part of his prayer.)

[Radd al-Muḥtār ma‘a al-Durr al-Mukhtār, Volume 1, Page 550]

Mufti Amjad ‘Ali A‘zami, in response to a similar question, says:

“If the Salaam was said before sitting, then the person did not join the congregation.”

(Fatāwā Amjadiyyah, Volume 1, Page 175)

If the Imam was saying Salaam to conclude the prayer (and it was not out of forgetfulness), then in such cases, a person coming at the time of Salaam will not be considered as having joined the congregation. This is because the moment the Imam engages in Salaam, he exits the prayer. Hence, in such a situation, it is apparent that the person will have to say Takbeer Tehrima again.

(Faiz al-Rasool, Volume 1, Page 349)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 5th July 2025.