What is the ruling on one who finishes reciting the two surahs before the Imam in a silent prayer, and is it permissible for him to wait for the Imam or to add a third short surah? And what is the ruling on completing the two rak'ahs in the case of one who joins the prayer late, having recited Al-Fatihah and another surah, and should the recitation be silent or audible in an audible prayer?

If the latecomer finishes the surah (definition) in the silent prayer before the Imam bows, he should increase his recitation with a second and third surah until the Imam bows. This is better than remaining silent. It has been reported from the fatwas of Al-Ramli and Al-Mawwaq that it is permissible to recite more than one surah.

As for someone who missed one or more rak'ahs, when he stands up to make up what he missed, he recites as if he were beginning the prayer himself. If he missed one rak'ah from a four-rak'ah prayer, he only recites Al-Fatihah silently in it, because in the fourth rak'ah, only Al-Fatihah is recited, not a surah.