The ruling on one who delays in prostration because he did not hear the imam’s takbir

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you. If the imam began to rise after prostration but did not raise his voice for the takbir, and the followers did not rise from prostration until after a period of time, is there anything required of the follower or the imam?

The Shaykh:
The important point is that he rose and caught up with the imam. The only thing is that he prolonged the prostration because he did not hear the takbir. There is nothing wrong, praise be to Allah. The imam is excused in this, as long as he caught up with the imam and followed him. The prolongation of prostration that occurred on his part is permissible, because he did not intend this thing. He did not intend to lag behind the imam; rather, he lagged behind him for an excuse, because he did not hear him.

The questioner:
Some people sit up.

The Shaykh:
No, the imam did not make a mistake. The imam did not make a mistake; it just means he did not say the takbir at all and did not raise his voice. If he did not say the takbir, he prostrates for forgetfulness, because the takbir for transition is obligatory among the obligations of the prayer, and it is corrected by the prostration for forgetfulness. But if he said the takbir but did not raise his voice, then he does not have to prostrate for forgetfulness.