1437. If a person joins a congregational prayer while the imam is in rukÙ, and the Imam raises his head from rukÙ before he is able to bow the required degree for rukÙ, he should follow the Imam to sujÙd, and consider the subsequent rak‘ah of the imam, as his first rak‘ah. Obligatory precaution dictates that after following the Imam to sujÙd, he should stand and recite takbÐrat al-iÎrÁm, with the intention of qurbat muÔlaqah, which is more general than the intention of takbÐrat al-iÎrÁm and dhikr.
1438. If a person joins a congregational prayer from its commencement, or during the recitation of sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah or the second sÙrah, and if while proceeding to rukÙ, the imam raises his head before he bows the required degree for rukÙ, his prayer and congregation will be valid if the delay is justifiable.
1439. If a person arrives at a congregational prayer while the imam has proceeded to the final tashahhud, and he wishes to obtain the reward of the congregation, he should make the intention of joining the congregation, recite takbÐrat al-iÎrÁm, and then sit down and recite the tashahhud with the imam. Based on obligatory precaution, he should recite it with the intention of qurbat muÔlaqah, which is more general than the intention for an obligatory or recommended shahÁdah. He should then remain in this position until the imam recites the salÁm of prayer, but he should not recite the salÁm himself. After the imam has completed his prayer, he should stand, and recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah without making another intention, and without pronouncing takbÐrat al-ihram again. He should then consider it as his first rak‘ah.
1440. A follower should not stand ahead of the imam in congregational prayer. Obligatory precaution dictates that if there is only one follower, and he is a male, he should stand to the right of the imam. It is not necessary for the follower to stand behind the imam, except in the case the follower is taller than the imam. In this case, obligatory precaution will dictate that he should stand in such a manner that he would not be ahead of the imam during rukÙ and sujÙd. If there is more than one follower in the congregation, its ruling is elaborated in article 1488.
1441. If the imam is a man and the follower is a woman, then there will be no problem if there is a curtain or something similar that separates the woman from the imam, or between the woman and another male follower who is the link between her and the imam.
1442. If a curtain or something similar to it intervenes between a follower and the imam in the midst of prayer, or between him and another follower through whom he is linked to the imam, then his congregational prayer will be deemed invalid and his prayer will become an individual prayer. He should therefore observe the obligations of individual prayers.
1443. The stronger view is that the distance between a follower’s place of prostration and the feet of the imam should not be greater than one large stride . The distance between a follower and another follower standing ahead of him, and is linking him to the imam, should similarly not be greater than one large stride. However, the recommended precaution is that there should not be a gap between a follower’s place of prostration and the feet of the follower standing ahead of him.
1444. If a person is connected to the imam in congregational prayer via a person who has joined the congregation at his right or left, and has no connection with the imam by means of the row ahead of him, obligatory precaution will dictate that the distance between him and the person to his right, or the one to his left–the person through whom he is connected to the imam—should not be greater than one large stride.
1445. If a distance greater than one large stride occurs between a person and the imam, or between him and another follower who is in the row ahead of him in the midst of prayer, his congregational prayer will be invalid and he should offer his prayer individually. Based on obligatory precaution, the same applies if a distance greater than one large stride occurs between him and the follower at his right or left side, by means of whom he is connected to the imam.
1446. If the prayer of all the people who are praying in a row has come to an end, then if the distance between the people who are situated in the row behind them and the people who are situated in the row ahead of them is equal to or less than one large stride, and the people who are situated in the row that completed their prayers rise immediately to offer another prayer behind the imam, the congregation of the row behind will be valid. However, if the distance is greater than one large stride, the congregational prayer of this row shall be invalid, and their prayer therefrom shall be individual.
1447. If a person joins congregational prayer in its second rak‘ah, it is not incumbent on him to recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah. He should not proceed to rukÙ before the imam, and should not stand before the tashahhud of the imam. He may join the imam in reciting qunÙt and tashahhud. While the imam is reciting tashahhud, the obligatory precaution is that he should place his fingers on the ground and raise his knees, while the frontal parts of the soles of his feet are placed on the ground. He should then stand with the imam, and recite sÙrat al-fÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah. If there is insufficient time to recite the second sÙrah, he should complete sÙrat al- fÁtiÎah and join the imam in rukÙ. If he is unable to join the imam in rukÙ, obligatory precaution dictates that he should make the intention to offer his prayer individually.
1448. If a person joins a four rak‘ah congregational prayer in its second rak‘ah, he should sit and recite the obligatory portions of tashahhud after performing the two sujÙd of his second rak‘ah, which would be the third rak‘ah of the imam, and rise from it. In the event there is insufficient time to recite tasbÐÎÁt al-arba‘ah three times, he should recite it once, and join the imam in rukÙ. If he doesn’t reach to the imam’s rukÙ, obligatory precaution dictates that he should make the intention to offer his prayer individually.
1449. If the imam is in his third or fourth rak‘ah, and a person who wishes to join the congregational prayer knows, or even entertains the possibility that if he joins and recites sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah, he will not be able to join the imam in rukÙ, obligatory precaution dictates that he should wait until the imam has proceeded to rukÙ, and then join the congregation.
1450. If a person joins congregational prayer in the qiyam (standing) of the third or fourth rak‘ah of the imam, he should recite sÙrat al-fÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah. If there is insufficient time for the second sÙrah, he should complete sÙrat al-fÁtiÎah, and join the imam in rukÙ. If he is unable to join the imam in rukÙ, obligatory precaution dictates that he should make the intention to offer his prayer individually.
1451. If a person is certain that if he recites the second sÙrah, and qunÙt, he will not be able to join the imam in rukÙ, and he deliberately recites the second sÙrah or qunÙt and doesen’t reach to the imam in rukÙ, his prayer will be valid, and should act in accordance with the obligations of individual prayer.
1452. If a person is satisfied that if he begins the second sÙrah, or complete it, he will be able to join the imam in rukÙ, obligatory precaution dictates that he should begin reciting the second sÙrah, or if he has already begun it, he should finish it. However, if it delays him and he realizes he will be unable to join the imam in rukÙ, he should not complete it.
1453. If a person is certain that he will be able to join the imam in his rukÙ if he recites the second sÙrah, but after completing the second sÙrah, he is unable to join his rukÙ, his congregational prayer will be valid.
1454. If the imam is in the state of qiyÁm, and a person does not know which rak‘ah he is in, he may join the congregational prayer. However, obligatory precaution dictates that he should recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah with an intention more general than the intention of it being a component of prayer or Qur’anic recitation, though he may come to realize that the imam was in fact in the first or second rak‘ah.
1455. If a person joins congregational prayer under the impression that the imam is in his first or second rak‘ah, and does not recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah, and after rukÙ, he realizes that the imam was in his third or fourth rak‘ah, his prayer will be valid. However, if he realizes before rukÙ, he should recite sÙrat al- fÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah. If there is insufficient time, he should only recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah, and join the imam in rukÙ. If there is insufficient time for sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah, obligatory precaution dictates that he should make the intention to offer his prayer individually.
1456. If a person joins congregational prayer under the impression that the imam is in his third or fourth rak‘ah, and recites sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah and the second sÙrah, and before proceeding to rukÙ, he realizes that the imam was in his first or second rak‘ah, his prayer will be valid. However, if he realizes during the recitation of sÙrat al- fÁtiÎah or the second sÙrah, he should discontinue his recitation.
1457. If a congregational prayer begins while a person is occupied with a recommended prayer, and he is unsure whether he will be able to join the congregation if he completes his recommended prayer, it is recommended for him to leave the recommended prayer, and join the congregation. In fact, if he is unsure whether he will be able to join the first rak‘ah of the congregational prayer or not, it is recommended for him to act according to the aforementioned instructions.
1458. If a congregational prayer begins while a person is occupied with a three or four rak‘ah prayer, and has not proceeded to the third rukÙ, and he is unsure whether he will be able to join the congregation if he completes his prayer, it is recommended for him to complete his prayer as a two rak‘ah prayer, with the intention of it being a recommended prayer and then join the congregational prayer.
1459. If the prayer of the imam has come to an end, while the follower is still occupied with tashahhud, or the first salÁm, it is not necessary for him to complete his prayer with the intention of an individual prayer.
1460. If a person, who is one rak‘ah behind the imam in congregational prayer, does not stipulate the intention of offering an individual prayer while the imam has proceeded to the tashahhud of the final rak‘ah, obligatory precaution dictates that he should place his fingers and the frontal part of the sole of his feet on the ground, raise his knees from the ground, wait for the imam to recite his salÁm and then stand to complete his prayer. There is no problem if he makes the intention of an individual prayer from thereon. However, if he had stipulated the intention of an individual prayer from the beginning, it is problematic.
