Suppose this imam did not remember that he had forgotten the second prostration until shortly before finishing the prayer; what is the ruling in such a case?
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The questioner : Suppose this imam did not remember that he had forgotten the second prostration until shortly before finishing the prayer; what is the ruling in such a case?
The Shaykh : The ruling in such a case, if the prostration was in the third rak'ah as in the question, is as follows.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We tell him to stand up now and perform a rak'ah. This is because the fourth rak'ah has become a substitute for the third rak'ah, from which the prostration was omitted, from the moment he reaches the place of the prostration for forgetfulness. Consequently, the second rak'ah takes the place of the rak'ah before it, in which he forgot the prostration. At that point, he has only prayed three rak'ahs, so he performs a rak'ah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : The ruling in such a case, if the prostration was in the third rak'ah as in the question, is as follows.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We tell him to stand up now and perform a rak'ah. This is because the fourth rak'ah has become a substitute for the third rak'ah, from which the prostration was omitted, from the moment he reaches the place of the prostration for forgetfulness. Consequently, the second rak'ah takes the place of the rak'ah before it, in which he forgot the prostration. At that point, he has only prayed three rak'ahs, so he performs a rak'ah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.