2/248. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1121 — Catching a Rak'ah in Salah
One Who Catches One Rak'ah Of The Friday Prayer
Hadith About Catching One Rak'ah in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1121
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1121
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الصَّلاَةَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone obtains a rak'ah in the prayer (along with the imam), he has obtained the whole prayer.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1121In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 732English translation : Book 2, Hadith 1116
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1121
This hadith about catching one rak'ah in prayer gives a clear and comforting rule for someone who reaches the congregation late. Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever obtains a rak'ah in the prayer along with the imam has obtained the whole prayer. The main point is not to be careless, but to understand the value of joining salah with the imam when one still catches a full rak'ah. For people searching for “hadith about catching one rakah” or “joining prayer late with imam,” this narration speaks directly to that case. It teaches that the rak'ah matters in reaching the prayer, and it keeps the focus on joining the imam properly.
What we learn from this hadith
- Catching a rak'ah with the imam is counted as reaching the prayer.
- A latecomer should still join the prayer when a rak'ah can be obtained.
- The hadith highlights the value of praying with the imam.
- The ruling is tied to obtaining a rak'ah, not merely arriving near the end.
