Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualaikum

If we pray sunnah 4 rakah prior to dhur prayer. Now if imam starts congregational prayer, at this time I just finished 1 rukuh and started  arising to standing position.now I can cancel my sunnah prayer  or I have to  finish remaining 3 rakah ( if I want to finish remaining 3 rakah I want to make it fast ? )

Advice me.

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Answer:

Break sunnah join fard

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Ali ibn Shaiban relates that the Messenger of Allah (saws) saw a man praying (alone) behind the row (or rows of congregational prayer) and he (saws) waited for him and (when he finished) told him: "Go forward (and join the row) for the salah of a person standing alone behind the rows is not valid."

Related by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, al-Baihaqi and Ahmad.

In light of the above guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) it is severely disliked that a person lets go or misses a part of the obligatory prayer in congregation, only so that he may fulfill his ‘nafl’ or ‘sunnah’ optional prayers.

If one has already started their ‘nafl’ or ‘sunnah’ prayer, and sees or hears the ‘iqama’ or call of the congregational obligatory prayer, one should simply leave their ‘nafl’ or ‘sunnah’ optional prayer and immediately join the rows to perform the congregational prayer with the believers. A few scholars are of the opinion that if one is almost about to complete one’s ‘nafl’ or ‘sunnah’ optional prayer like being in one’s last ruku or tashahud, and one happens to hear the ‘iqama’ for the congregational prayer, one may complete his optional prayer as soon as possible and join the congregational prayer. But if one has a full rakah (or more) left in one’s optional prayer, and one hears the call or ‘iqama’ for congregational prayer, it would be best to leave their optional prayer, and join the congregational prayer.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan