Q. Salaam ul aikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu,

Can the Imam wait for someone who is coming late to join the prayer? Like can he prolong the ruku/sajdah/tashahud/any position in prayer so that the latecomer can participate and join the prayer? What about when the Imam is about to be done with one rak’aat…can he prolong it just enough for the individual/s to join in so that they don’t have to make-up the missed rak’aat later? We’re talking about a few seconds’ delay here.
Answer:

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Basic Rules first:

• The Imaam should not be concerned with the footsteps of late comers. He must continue as he usually does.
• The imaams waiting as he recites a few extra tasbeehs would not invalidate the salaah.
• The Imaam should also practice ease with his sajdahs.
• As with tashahood, the Imaam cannot delay for the time period of three suhanallahs in the first tashahood of a four rakat salaah once the shahadah has been recited. Within the second tashahood, the Imaam can delay by reciting additional duas from the Quran and hadith.
• An Imaam cannot be merely silent beyond the period of three subhanallah in any of his postures. The Imaam can also take his time so as to allow people to perform their salaah with ease.
• (The above rules apply when performing alone as well. To delay with silence imposes the penalty of sajdah sahw. Failing to do so negates the salaah)

A few seconds delay is not extensive; in fact it can prove rewarding and beneficial as mentioned above.

Followers of the Imaam should not run when imaam is in ruku. Nor should followers lament for a few extra tasbeehs, or a few shorter then what they may be used to. Always remember, if you are a follower, then you are a follower, not the Imaam. Followers get rewarded to be followers, and Imaams get their reward for being sincere Imaams whilst following the rules they have learned through Quran, Hadith and Sunnah!

Even if one is a late comer, they would gain their reward for wanting to join salaah with jamaat. The reward decreases with every delaying moment. To run into your salaah is also as a result of sheer ignorance. Followers should join with ease and eagerness, not make it a habit to delay for their salaah, so they can derive maximum benefit from their salaah.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.