Short answer
In the Hanafi school, yes for Fajr only: if you expect to still catch the imam, pray the two sunnah quickly away from the rows, such as at the back or behind a pillar, then join. If you would miss the congregation, join the imam and pray the sunnah later. For other prayers, join the congregation straight away. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say no prayer is started after the iqamah.
Because the two rakats before Fajr are the most stressed sunnah, someone who arrives during the Fajr congregation prays them first, away from the rows, if he expects to catch the imam before the end. Otherwise he joins and may make them up after sunrise and before zawal. For the other prayers, he joins the congregation and prays the sunnah afterwards.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Once the iqamah is given, no voluntary prayer is started, including the Fajr sunnah; join the imam and pray the sunnah after the fard.
- Hanbali
- No voluntary prayer is started after the iqamah; if you are already in one, finish it quickly unless you fear missing the congregation, in which case break it off.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said that once the iqamah is given, there is no prayer except the obligatory one. He also said that the two rakats of Fajr are better than the world and everything in it, and he never left them, at home or travelling. The Hanafi school combines these: the rule against praying after the iqamah applies in the rows of the congregation, and because of the special place of the Fajr sunnah, a latecomer may pray it apart from the rows if he will still catch the imam. This is reported from Ibn Mas'ud and other Companions.
The Hanafi steps:
- You will catch at least one rakah with the imam, and many later Hanafi scholars say even the final sitting: pray the two sunnah briefly, away from the rows, then join.
- You would miss the congregation: join the imam. You may pray the sunnah after sunrise, once the sun is up, and before zawal. See praying the Fajr sunnah after the fard.
- Never pray it inside the rows or right next to them while the congregation is praying.
- Dhuhr, Asr or Isha: join the congregation. Pray the four sunnah of Dhuhr after the fard.
Better still, come early enough to pray the sunnah at home or in the masjid before the iqamah. See the sunnah prayers for each salah and praying during the adhan or iqamah.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 710
Sahih... إذا أقيمت الصلاة فلا صلاة إلا المكتوبة ...
"When the iqamah for prayer is given, there is no prayer except the obligatory one."
No voluntary prayer in the congregation once it has begun; the Hanafi school excepts the Fajr sunnah prayed apart.
Sahih Muslim 725
Sahih... ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها ...
"The two rakats of Fajr are better than the world and everything in it."
The special status of the Fajr sunnah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on catching the obligatory prayer. One who reaches the imam in Fajr without having prayed its sunnah prays it at the door of the masjid if he fears missing one rakah but will catch the other; if he fears missing both, he joins.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on catching the obligatory prayer. Later scholars extend this to catching the final sitting; the sunnah is prayed away from the rows.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.