Question: Can you state the proper way of joining Salaat in the Masjid if one is late and what  should one do to complete his salaat to make it valid?

Answer: If a person arrives late for salaah in Jamaah (congregation) then he must stand in the line with the other musallis and in the standing posture, must say the takbeer of tahreemah while lifting the hands. After this, he will join the Imam in whatever posture he may be in. After the Imam has come to an end of his salaah, the latecomer must continue by performing the rakaats he missed. If he met the Imam in the Ruku posture of any rakaat, then he would be considered as having achieved that rakaat and would not be required to make up for that particular rakaat. In making up, the latecomer would wait in the last rakaat until the Imam gives his second salaam at the end of the salaah. After this, he would get up to the standing posture and continue by completing the rakaats that he missed. While waiting for the Imam's salaam, the latecomer must not make the salaams with him. If the latecomer missed one or two rakaats, then while completing them, he will be required to recite Sura Fatiha and a Sura in each of these rakaats, whether one or two. If he is making up for three or four rakaats (which he missed), then he must recite Sura Fatiha and a Sura in the first two rakaats alone. In the other rakaats, he would only recite Sura Fatiha.


And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan