What does one do if one is performing the sunna prayers and the iqama is called?

Assalamu alaykum

If one is in the midst of performing the sunna prayer of Zuhr, Asr, or Jumu’a prayer etc, when the call begins for the congregational prayer or sermon, the procedure to follow will be as follows.

If one has not yet completed two rak’ats of the sunna prayer then one must complete two rak’ats, make salam and then join the congregation. He should then make up the sunna prayer (4 rak’ats) after the fard prayer of Zuhr and Jumu’a since they are emphasized sunnas.

If one has already performed more than two rak’at of the sunna prayer then he should quickly complete four rak’ats, then join the congregation (Radd al-Muhtar 1:479)

The procedure described above has been explained by the jurists while keeping in mind two points:

1. No act of worship must be wasted once initiated as far as possible.

2. The importance of the congregational prayer and the hadith, “When the [obligatory] prayer is commenced then there is no prayer except the obligatory prayer (Sahih Muslim).

As for the sunna of Fajr, they must be performed as long as one does not fear that he would lose the complete congregation with the imam, since the emphasis on them is much greater.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam

Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf