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Fatwa CenterEntered the congregation prayer while the Imaam is saying Aameen
Question
Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaah ... Dear Shaikh, Please advice if we can say "Aaameen" along with the congregation immediately after Takbeer-e-Tahreema (without reciting the Sana), to earn the reward for our "Aaameen" if it matches with those of the Angles' ? Jazaak Allaah Khairan
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
What is legislated for a praying person to do if he starts the prayer while the Imaam had already started reciting the Quran, is to listen to the recitation of the Imaam, and it is not permissible for him in this situation to say the opening supplication of the prayer (which is said after Takbeeratul-Ihraam –the Takbeer for initiating the prayer) because the Prophet said: "The Imaam of the congregation is there only to be followed, if he says Allaahu Akbar (Allaah is the Greatest) then you should say Allaahu Akbar, and if he recites the Quran, you should listen to him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
When the Imaam finishes reciting Al-Faatihah (the opening chapter of the Quran) it is legislated for the people who are praying behind him to say Aameen, as the Prophet said: “If the Imaam says Aameen, you should say Aameen, because the one whose saying Aameen corresponds to when the angels say it (after the Imaam), then all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Therefore, if you start the prayer while the Imaam is reciting Al-Faatihah, you should say Aameen along with the congregation and you should not say the opening supplication of the prayer, and then you have to recite Al-Faatihah according to the correct opinion of the scholars 
.
For more benefit on the proper way of performing the prayer behind the Imaam, please refer to Fatwa 92411.
Allaah Knows best.
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