How to join Salaah when the Imaam is in Rukoo’ (Updated)

Shaykh al-Albaanee wrote:

Ataa’ (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that he heard Abdullaah bin az-Zubayr say while on the pulpit: “When anyone of you enters the masjid while the people are in rukoo’, he should bow wherever he enters then he should move slowly while bowing till he enters the row, for this is the Sunnah.’ Ataa' said: 'I saw him doing that.'Ibn Jurayj said: 'I saw Ataa' doing that.'

Among that which attests to the authenticity of this hadeeth is that the companions acted on it after the Prophet; among them were Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq, Zayd bin Thaabit, Abdullah bin Mas’ood and Abdullah bin az-Zubayr.

1.      Al-Bayhaqee (2/90) reported from Abu Bakr bin Abdur-Rahmaan bin al-Haarith bin Hishaam that Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq and Zayd bin Thaabit entered the masjid while the Imaam was in rukoo’, so they bowed. Then they moved slowly while in rukoo’ till they joined the row.

I (al-Albaanee) say: Its men are trustworthy. Were it not that Makhool reported it in ‘an’an form from Abu Bakr bin al-Haarith, I would have graded it hasan. However, it is authentically reported from Zayd bin Thaabit as it will follow.

2.      Abu Umaamah bin Sahl bin Hunayf reported that he saw Zayd bin Thaabit enter the masjid while the Imaam was in rukoo’, so he walked until it was possible for him to join the row while bowing; he said takbeer and bowed. Then he moved slowly bowing till he joined the row.’ Recorded by al-Bayhaqee (2/90 and 3/106) and its isnad is saheeh.

3.      Zayd bin Wahb said: ‘I proceeded with Abdullah – that is, Ibn Mas’ood – from his house to the masjid. When we were in the middle of the masjid, the Imaam bowed. Abdullah said takbeer and bowed and I bowed along with him. Then we walked bowing till we reached the row at the time when the people raised their heads. When the Imaam finished the prayer, I stood up thinking that I did not catch the rak’ah. Then Abdullah held my hand and asked me to sit down. Then he said: ‘You caught the rak’ah.’ Recorded by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf and others with a saheeh isnad.

4.      ‘Uthmaan bin al-Aswad said: ‘I and ‘Amr bin Tameem entered the masjid. Then the Imaam bowed, so he and I bowed. We walked bowing until we entered the row. When we finished the prayer, ‘Amr said to me: ‘From who did you hear what you did now? I said: ‘From Mujaahid.’ He said: ‘I saw Ibn Az-Zubayr doing it.” Recorded by Ibn Abee Shaybah also; its isnad is saheeh.

Explaining the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah who reported that he came [to the masjid] while the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) was in rukoo’, then he bowed before joining the row. Then he walked [bowing] to the row. When the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) finished his prayer, he asked: “Who among you bowed before joining the row then walked to the row? Abu Bakrah said: ‘I.’ Then the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “May Allah increase you in zeal, but do not do it again,”

Shaykh al-Albaanee said: ‘[The hadeeth] is only specific to rushing [in order catch the prayer] due to the fact that it negates [going to the masjid] in calm and dignified manner. This is the explanation given to it by Imaam Shaafi’ee. The Prophet’s saying: ‘Do not do it again’ is similar to his saying: ‘Do not come to the prayer rushing.’ Al-Bayhaqee mentioned it in his Sunan (2/90)

With regard to the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah in a marfoo’ form which states: “When one of you comes to prayer, he should not bow before joining the row; [he should not do so] until he takes his place in the row;” it is not authentic. Refer to ad-Da’eefah, no. 981.

Shaykh al-Albaanee further stated: “al-Qaasim bin Rabee’ah narrated from Abu Bakrah that whenever he comes out of his house and finds the people bowing, he would bow along with them. Then he would walk bowing until he entered the row. And he would consider it a rak’ah.

I say: This isnad is saheeh. All its men are trustworthy. It contains a strong proof that what is meant by the prohibition [in the other hadeeth of Abu Bakrah] is rushing  [to join the prayer.] because a narrator of a hadeeth understands what he narrates more than others, especially if he is the one the prohibition is being addressed to. So hold onto it, for it is strong. You may not find it in detailed books of hadeeth or takhreej.

Source: Refer to Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah, (1/2/926-927), ad-Da’eefah (2/408-409), Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (2/264-265), Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad (401)

Source:  As-Saheehah, 1/418.