If a person joins Salah (Prayer)

Q 2: A person joined the Imam in the last two Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) of a four-Rak`ah Salah (Prayer consisting of four units) and after Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer), he stood up to make up for the missed Rak`ahs. How should he make up for the missed Rak`ahs? Do the two Rak`ahs he prayed form the start or end of his prayer?

A: The correct view among the scholars is that what the latecomer realizes of Salah with the Imam forms the first part of his Salah, because most of the Hadith narrations in this regard come with the word "then complete it." As to the narrations with the word "make it up", it also has the same meaning of 'complete', for the reports explain one another. Allah (Glorified be He) says, So when you have accomplished your Manâsik i.e. complete it. This is the implication necessitated by the principles of Shari`ah (Islamic law). Assuming that the Rak`ahs he prayed were the end of his Salah this means that the Rak`ahs he offers alone are the first part of his Salah and that is not true. (Part No. 7; Page No. 322) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.