520. Should I Break My Prayer To Join The Jama’ah Or Continue With My Prayer?

By Asma bint Shameem 

If I’m praying Sunnah and the iqaamah is called, what should I do?

Should I break my prayer to join the Jama’ah or continue with my prayer?

*ANSWER*

If you’re praying Sunnah (or anytime else) and the iqaamah is called, if you’re about to *finish* your prayer, you should do so quickly. Then join the Jama’ah. 

But if you’ve *JUST BEGUN*, then you should stop praying and join the Jama’ah. 

*PROOF:*

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“When the iqaamah for prayer is given, there is no prayer except the prescribed prayer.” (Muslim)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“If a person enters the masjid and is praying the sunnah while the iqaamah is called, then the best opinion in this case is that if he is in his second rak‘ah, he should shorten it, and if he is in the first rak‘ah, he should just break his prayer and enter the congregation with the Imaam. 

So, if one has performed the ruku‘ for the second rak‘ah, then he should complete the prayer, and if not, then he should discontinue because what is left from his sujud and tashahhud is not needed any more. 

Moreover, he should break without salaam, and it is enough to have the intention in the heart, contrary to common misconception.“

(Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/345)

*HOW” to stop your rak’ah*

There’s no “special way” to stop your rak’ah. 

And there’s no need to say salaam or sit for tashahhud etc. 

Simply stop where ever you are in your prayer and join the Jama’ah. 

Abd don’t worry. 

There’s no sin in doing so because you’re actually following the instructions of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

And Allaah knows best