Chapter on the Rulings of Congregational Prayer (the Minimum Number for Congregational Prayer, the Description of the Imam, Who Is to Be Followed and Who Is Not to Be Followed, Recitation Behind Both of Them, the Rulings of Those Led in Prayer, and Other Such Rulings Related to It)

Al-Husayn ibn Said narrated from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Ibn Udhaynah, from Zurarah, from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “If a man catches part of the prayer and misses part of it behind an imam (of prayer), and he counts the prayer behind him as valid, then he should consider the first part that he catches as the beginning of his own prayer. If he catches two rak’ahs from Dhuhr, or Asr, or Isha, and misses two rak’ahs, then in each rak’ah that he catches behind the imam (of prayer), he should recite Surah al-Fatihah and another surah to himself. But if he is not able to complete the surah, then Surah al-Fatihah suffices him. So when the imam (of prayer) finishes with the taslim, he (the follower) stands and prays two rak’ahs in which he does not recite, because recitation in the prayer is only in the first two rak’ahs of any prayer with Surah al-Fatihah and a surah. And in the last two rak’ahs, there is no recitation; rather, it is glorification (tasbih), exaltation (takbir), declaration of God's oneness (tahlil), and supplication. There is no recitation in them. And if he caught one rak’ah, then he should recite in it, behind the imam (of prayer). Then when the imam (of prayer) performs the taslim, he stands and recites Surah al-Fatihah and a surah, then sits and recites the tashahhud. Then he stands and prays two rak’ahs in which there is no recitation.”