Q: I am at home and the zuhr prayer jamat will soon start in the masjid and I have only a few minutes to perform my 4 sunnats. If I perform the sunnats before I leave for the masjid, I will miss the beginning of the jamat (I will catch the last 1-2 rakats). Should I do this, or should I instead leave early to the masjid and pray the 4 sunnats after the fard, thus catching the jamaat from its beginning?
A: You should go to the Musjid and if the jamaat commences, then you should join the jamaat and perform your Sunnats after the jamaat. In the future you should make an effort to go early to the Musjid so that you will be able to perform your Sunnats before the Jamaat and get the jamaat from the beginning.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)