The ruling on the prostration for forgetfulness for one who joins the prayer late by one rak'ah or more
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Honorable Shaykh! I caught up with the imam for one rak'ah in a four-rak'ah prayer. The imam concluded the prayer, and I stood to complete the missed portion. Then I saw him prostrate twice for forgetfulness. Am I required to follow the imam in this prostration for forgetfulness? And when is the best place for it?
If the imam prostrates for forgetfulness after the closing salam, and a person has a missed portion to make up, he should stand to complete it and not follow the imam; because following the imam is impossible in this place, since following is only achieved if one concludes the prayer with him, and he will not conclude the prayer until his own prayer is complete. So he stands and completes his prayer, then, when he has finished the prayer, if he had caught up with the imam during his prostration for forgetfulness, he prostrates; that is, this person who joined late prostrates after the salam. And if the imam forgot before the person joined him, he owes nothing.
If the imam prostrates for forgetfulness after the closing salam, and a person has a missed portion to make up, he should stand to complete it and not follow the imam; because following the imam is impossible in this place, since following is only achieved if one concludes the prayer with him, and he will not conclude the prayer until his own prayer is complete. So he stands and completes his prayer, then, when he has finished the prayer, if he had caught up with the imam during his prostration for forgetfulness, he prostrates; that is, this person who joined late prostrates after the salam. And if the imam forgot before the person joined him, he owes nothing.