Should a worshipper interrupt his individual prayer and join the congregation if he finds them praying behind him while he is in the first rak'ah?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Scholars have differed concerning an individual who begins a fard (obligatory) prayer alone and then a congregation arrives. The preponderant view is that he should complete two rak'ahs (units of prayer) and then join the congregation, due to the desirability of transitioning from a fard to a nafl (supererogatory) prayer in order to attain the congregation. However, if he fears missing the congregation while he is in the first rak'ah, then it is better for him to break his prayer and join the congregation, because interrupting a fard prayer is permissible here for something more beneficial.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/44001
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 44001
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy