Whoever caught the Final Tashahhud with the Imam
Question :
A person joined the Imam in the final Tashahhud; should he suffice himself with the recitation of the Tashahhud or send blessings on the Prophet and supplicate and what is the evidence?
Answer:
If he catches the Imam in the Tashahhud, he should join with him and recite the Tashahhud to the end, because he sat in this position in order to follow the Imam, so he should follow him in the sitting and in the prescribed remembrance therein.
If he restricts himself to the first Tashahhud, then I hope that there is no objection to it, but it is better to continue until he completes it. This is covered by the generality of the Prophet's words:
«And whatever you catch (of the congregational prayer), then pray it.
- and his words:
"If any of you comes to the prayer while the Imam is in a position, he should do as the Imam does.
Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 2 Page 227