Making up units of Prayer after the congregational is complete.

Q; WednesdayMustapha Sherif
Pls tel me hw 2 pay back my salat if if i met only 1 rakat in congregational insha prayer, I mean if i miss three rakat in insha prayer, how will i pay it back? Where i wld i recite alound n silently. Wil first observe 2 rakat n sit 4 tashud b/4 observing d last one or i will observe 1 n sit,then later bring d other two.

A; All-Praise is due to Allah,
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you come to the prayer, you should be dignified (and not rush). Whatever you catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, complete it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 635; Muslim, 603.

The one whom has arrived late to Pray in congregational and has missed a rukah or more must make up what they have missed. For an example as you have asked about Al-Ishaa Prayer, if you where to miss one rukah upon arriving at the congregation you would make up three upon the Imam finishing the Prayer (Taslim). An easy way to calculate what one has missed from the congregation is to minus what you have prayed from the original number of the Prayer that you are praying.

If a person joins the congregation when the imaam is bowing, one of the following three scenarios applies:

1- He says takbeerat al-ihraam (saying “Allaahu akbar” to start the prayer) whilst standing, then he bows whilst the imaam is bowing. In this case he has caught up with the rak’ah with the imaam.

2- He says takbeerat al-ihraam whilst the imaam is bowing, but he bows after the imaam has stood up from rukoo’. In this case he is not counted as having caught up with the rak’ah with the imaam, and he has to make it up.

3- He bows straightaway without saying takbeerat al-ihraam. In this case his prayer is invalid, because he has omitted one of the pillars or essential parts of the prayer, which is takbeerat al-ihraam.

“The fuqaha’ are agreed that whoever catches up with the imaam in rukoo’ has caught up with the rak’ah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever catches up with rukoo’ has caught up with the rak’ah.’” This was narrated by Abu Dawood, and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 496; on p. 262 he said: one of the things that strengthens the hadeeth is the fact that the Sahaabah acted in accordance with this:

1 – Ibn Mas’ood, who said: “Whoever does not catch up with the imaam when he is bowing has not caught up with that rak’ah.” Its isnaad is saheeh.

2 – ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar, who said: “If you come when the imaam is bowing, and you put your hands on you knees before the imaam stands up, then you have caught up (with that rak’ah).” Its isnaad is saheeh.

3 - Zayd ibn Thaabit, who used to say: “Whoever catches up with the rak’ah before the imaam raises his head has indeed caught up with the rak’ah.” Its isnaad is jayyid.

See al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 23/133; al-Mughni, 1/298.

As for reciting the Fatiha and reciting a Surah or verses from the Quran it is not necessary to read out loudly, only the Imam that leads a Prayer in congregation. As for the person whom is Praying by them self is to read it silently to them self, and this is the more revised opinion in this case.

As for when you have to make Tashahood all depends how much you have Prayed with the congregation, in your scenario stated above you have Prayed only one Rukah with the congregation so upon making Taslim you would rise and complete one rukah and then sit for the first Tuashahood. Upon completing that you would then rise and complete two more rukat and sit for your final Tashahood then make Taslim.


And Allah knows best...