The Obligation of the Latecomer to Follow the Imam in His Prayer

The questioner:
The second question, Abu Muhammad. May you be well. The second question: Some people observe, Shaykh Salih, that in the Maghrib prayer, a person who joins late with one rak'ah remaining performs the two remaining rak'ahs consecutively, meaning without performing the first tashahhud. Is that correct?

The Shaykh:
The first tashahhud is dropped from him because he is following the imam. It is obligatory for him to follow the imam, and the first tashahhud is dropped from him. Yes.

The questioner:
No, my intention, Shaykh, is that if he performs the second and third rak'ahs, he does not perform the tashahhud between them; he performs them together.

The Shaykh:
How so, my brother?

The questioner:
The one who joined late.

The Shaykh:
Be patient. If he catches one rak'ah, or if he is late by one rak'ah.

The questioner:
No, he is late by one rak'ah. He is late by one rak'ah.

The Shaykh:
The important thing, the important thing is that he follows the imam, my brother. The important thing is that he follows the imam. And when the imam sits for the final tashahhud, he sits with him. Then, when the imam says the taslim, he stands up and performs what remains of his prayer that he did not catch with the imam. What he did not catch at the beginning of his prayer, and what he performs after his imam, is the end of his prayer. This is what is required of you, my brother.

The presenter:
Thank you.