How should a third person join a jama'ath of two?
To join a congregation (jama'ah) of two, the third person should follow specific guidelines based on Islamic teachings. Al-Kafi provides insight into this situation. One narration states: He should complete the congregation's prayer, then sit until after the final testimony, the imam signals with his hand to the right and left which is the salam and the end of their prayer and completes what he missed or has remaining.
Al-Kafi 4:502
Additionally, another narration mentions: It is not befitting for a man to join a group in their prayer without intending it as prayer; he should intend it as prayer.
Al-Kafi 4:503 This indicates that intention is crucial when joining the prayer.
Thus, when a third person joins the congregation, they should ensure they intend to participate in the prayer and complete any missed units after the imam concludes the prayer.
Sources
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Al-Kafi 4:502
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 502
I entered upon Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him) and said to him, "Are there two imams?" He said, "No, except that one of them is silent." I said, "How is that? You are not silent, and Abu Ja'far has not yet been born." He said, "By God, God will create from me one who will establish the truth and its people and obliterate falsehood and its people." Abu Ja'far (peace be upon him) was born to him after a year. Ibn Qiyama was asked, "Doesn't this verse convince you?" He replied, "By God, it is a great verse, but what can I do about what Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) said about his son?" — OR — I asked about a man who arrives at the mosque while the imam is already ahead of him by one or more cycles. The imam rises and takes his hand to place him closest to the congregation and leads him. He said: He should complete the congregation's prayer, then sit until after the final testimony, the imam signals with his hand to the right and left which is the salam and the end of their prayer and completes what he missed or has remaining.
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Al-Kafi 4:503
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 503
I came to Khurasan while standing and carried goods with me, including a wool garment in a bundle. I did not feel it or know its place. When I arrived at Marw and settled in one of its stops, I suddenly saw a man from some of its residents say to me: 'Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha (peace be upon him) says to send him the wool garment you have.' I asked, 'Who informed Abu al-Hasan of my arrival? I had just arrived and had no wool garment with me.' He returned to him and came back to me, saying, 'He says yes, it is in such and such a place, in such and such bundle.' I sought it where he indicated and found it at the bottom of the bundle. I sent it to him. — OR — I said: A man joins a group in their prayer without intending it as prayer, but the imam leads him by taking his hand and leading the prayer. Does their prayer count with his though he did not intend it as prayer? He said: It is not befitting for a man to join a group in their prayer without intending it as prayer; he should intend it as prayer. If he has prayed early, he has another prayer; otherwise, he should not join them. Their prayer suffices for the group even if he did not intend it.
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