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:

Dear Sir,

ASAK,

Kindly clear my doubts -

I went to masjid to pray Duhar in congregation but I noticed that Jamat is already over. So I offered my prayer alone. When I finished, I saw there is a group of people preparing for another JAMAT of Duhar. I just got up and joined them for prayer, thinking that my earlier prayer will be considered as Sunnah rakats.

Was it an acceptable deed in Islam ?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Join congregation after praying

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.

Abu Said al Khudri narrates that a man entered the Prophet’s Mosque, and the Prophet (saws) and his companions had already finished their obligatory prayer in congregation. The Prophet (saws) said: "Who will give charity to him by praying with him (in a new congregation)?" So, a man (Abi Shaibah reports that it was Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.)) from the people stood and prayed with him.

Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi

Respected brother, if you made intention to offer an obligatory prayer, and happened to offer it alone, that prayer will constitute as your obligatory prayer. If after you completed your obligatory prayer, you noticed a congregation and joined the congregation, there is absolutely no harm….but the prayer that you offered in congregation will be considered ‘nafl’ or supererogatory prayer for you.

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