Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When the prayer is established, do not come running, but come in a state of calmness and dignity, and whatever part of the prayer you catch (with the Imam), perform it, and whatever you miss, complete it afterwards. In one narration, instead of ((فَأَتِمُّوا)), the words ((فَاقْضُوا)) are used (both have the same meaning).

(Second chain) A similar hadith is narrated, except that the final words are as follows: Whatever you catch up with, recite it, and whatever has preceded you, complete it afterwards.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, he says: We were praying with the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he heard the sound of some people moving. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, finished the prayer, he called them and asked: What happened to you? They said: O Messenger of Allah! We hurried towards the prayer. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Do not do like this. When you come to the prayer, adopt calmness and dignity. Whatever part (of the congregational prayer) you catch, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it (afterwards).

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The prayer had been established, a man came running, when he reached the mosque, he was out of breath. When he stood in the row, he said: "Alhamdulillahi hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feehi" (All praise is due to Allah, abundant, pure, and blessed praise). When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he asked: Who among you was the one speaking? The people remained silent. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked again: Who was the one speaking? He has said a good thing, there was nothing wrong in it. That man said: O Messenger of Allah! I had come walking quickly, when I stood in the row, I said these words. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I saw twelve angels rushing towards it, as to who would take these words (first) upwards. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When any of you comes to prayer, he should come walking as usual, whatever part of the prayer he catches, he should perform, and whatever he misses, he should complete it (afterwards).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Walk towards the mosque; this is the practice and Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever goes towards the mosque where congregation is held, each of his steps erases one sin and one step is recorded as a good deed, both while going (to the mosque) and while returning.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: None of you should hasten from his food for the sake of prayer. Nafi’ says: When Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would hear the iqamah while he was eating his dinner, he would not hasten (from his food).