Question:
As-salamu ‘aleikum,
If one is in the first raka’ of Salat al-Dhuhr, for example, and the athan for Salat al-’Asr comes in has one missed the prayer? In other words, what is the minimum one must pray within the prescribed time in order to have “caught” that prayer? Is it one complete raka’ or just the takbir?
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
If at least one rakah is made in the prescribed time, then a prayer is considered a current performance. Ibn Hajar al-Haytami mentioned in his commentary on BaFadl,
ومن صلى ركعة من الصلاة في الوقت فهي أي الصلاة كلها أداء أو صلى دونها فقضاء
“One who prays a rakah of the prayer in the time, all of that prayer is a current performance. Or, if one prays less than that, it is a make-up.” (v. 1, p. 211)
Sh. Sulayman al-Kurdi further noted (citing from Tuhfah) that by “a rakah” what is meant is a complete rakah where one has performed beyond the second sajdah.
Therefore, if one is in the first rakah of the zuhr prayer and asr’s time enters; then, one missed the prayer if the rakah is incomplete.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.