Question
Can this narration be quoted?
It is narrated that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When you come to join the prayer and find us in prostration, then you should join in the prostration but should not count this prostration as a part of your prayer. Whoever joins late but completes one unit of the prayer, before the Imam straightens his back from prostration would be considered as having offered his prayers with the congregation, except that he must complete the part of the prayer that he has missed because of his late joining.”
Answer
This seems to be a combination of two narrations.
1) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When you come to join the prayer and find us in prostration, then you should join in the prostration but should not count this prostration as a part of your Salah [as part of the obligatory sajdah for that rak’ah] and whoever catches one rak’ah, has got the Salah”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 885, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 1622, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 216 and pg. 273/274)
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi concurs. The words, ‘Whoever catches one rak’ah of the Salah has caught the Salah’ is recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim as well. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 580 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 607)
2) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever catches one rak’ah of the Salah, before the Imam straightens his back, has caught the Salah”
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 1595, Sunan Daraqutni, Hadith: 1313)
Note: The above should not be viewed as a Fiqh ruling. Kindly refer to a Mufti/Darul Ifta for further clarification.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar