بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب وباللہ التوفیق

It is stated in the Ahadith, that when the congregation prayer starts, no prayer other than that should be offered. Therefore, the general rule is that Sunnah prayer should not be offered while the obligatory prayer is being offered. Rather, it is important to join the obligatory prayer which is being led by the Imam at the time.

In the situation where a person started offering the Sunnah while the obligatory prayer was being offered at the time, then he should complete two rak'ahs, say salaam and then join the congregation. But if he is praying the Sunnah of four rak'ahs and has started the third rak'ah, he should then try to quickly complete the fourth rak'ah and join the congregation. 

However, it is important to note that the two rak’ahs of Sunnah should not be offered along the existing rows of worshippers or within the immediate rows behind the worshipers, rather they should be offered in the Masjid courtyard or in a corner or behind a pillar, to avoid disturbing the congregational prayer. 

Due to special emphasis of the Sunnah of Fajr, the Prophet of Allah (SAW) said: “Do not abandon the two Sunnah of Fajr, even though horses trample you. In another narration, the Prophet of Allah (SAW) said: “the two rak'ahs of Fajr are more valuable than the world and whatever it contains”. Due to the importance, it is narrated by several Companions (RA) of the Holy Prophet (SAW) that they offered the Sunnah of Fajr even when the Fajr Jama’ah was being offered. 

In that context, the jurists have stated that if a person has not performed the Sunnah of Fajr while the Fajr prayer has already started, then if he believes he will be able to join the congregation before its completion, he should pray Sunnah and then join the congregation. But if he fears that he couldn’t finish the Sunnah in time to join the Fajr congregational prayer, he better join the congregation, and offer Sunnah afterwards. 

Therefore, if a “Muqtadi” has joined the Jamaat after offering Sunnah, then his action is correct.

عن ابن ھریرۃ عن النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم :اذا اقیمت الصلاۃ فلا صلاۃ الا المکتوبۃ ۔(صحیح مسلم: ۱؍۴۹۳)

عن عائشہ ؓ: قالت : قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم :رکعتا الفجر خیر من الدنیا وما فیھا۔ ۰شرح  مشکل الا۔۔ :۱۰؍۳۲۱)

عن ابی ھریرۃ ؓ قال : قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم :لا تترکوا رکعتی الفجر وان طردتکم الخیل۔ (مصنف عبد الرزاق:۲؍ ۴۴۴)

عن أبي الدرداء أنہ کان یدخل المسجد، والناس صفوف في صلاۃ الفجر، فیصلي الرکعتین في ناحیۃ المسجد، ثم یدخل مع القوم في الصلاۃ۔ (شرح معاني الآثار، الصلاۃ / باب الرجل یدخل المسجد والإمام في صلاۃ الفجر ۱؍۴۸۷ رقم: ۲۱۶۴)

فإن لم یکن علی باب المسجد موضع للصلاۃ یصلیہا في المسجد خلف ساریۃ من سواری المسجد وأشدہا کراہۃ أن یصلیہا مخالطا للصف مخالفا للجماعۃ …؛ لٰکن فیہا إذا کان للمسجد موضعان والإمام في أحدہما۔ ذکر المحیط أنہ قیل لا یکرہ۔ (شامي ۲؍۵۶ کراچی،)

فقط واللہ اعلم واتم