Muhammad.com collection in 109 languages

standing position he then puts his hands to his ears and says,
"Allah is The Greatest," before joining the Imam in the prayer ser-
vice.

If the Imam is in the standing or bending position when a wor-
shipper joins, the worshipper will be credited for performing a
complete rak'ah of prayer. If the worshipper joins after the Imam
has finished the bending position, the worshipper will be con-
sidered to have missed the rak'ah. Any rak’ahs missed are to be
made up. When the Imam turns his face to the right and says, "As-
salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (Peace be on you and the Mercy
of Allah)," the worshipper making up for missed rak'ahs stands
and offers them without offering the salams with the Imam.

Only if one has a valid Islamic reason may he be excused from
offering the obligatory prayers in congregation (see Essentials). In
such a case he will be allowed to perform them alone at their stated
times. Such permission is generally granted to the blind and the in-
firm, and to those who are hindered by unfavorable conditions