How should one act if he missed some rak'ahs with the imam, and then the imam performed the prostration for forgetfulness? Does he prostrate with the imam, or does he complete his prayer?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh. How should one act if he missed some rak'ahs with the imam, and then the imam performed the prostration for forgetfulness? Does he prostrate with the imam, or does he complete his prayer?
The Shaykh : If the imam’s prostration for forgetfulness is before the taslim, then it is obligatory for this person to follow the imam, because the one who joins the prayer late is not permitted to stand up to make up what he missed until the imam’s prayer is complete. However, if the imam’s prostration is after the taslim, we tell this man who missed part of the prayer: stand up and do not prostrate with the imam, because you cannot follow in this case, since following is only possible by saying the taslim with the imam. And this latecomer cannot say the taslim with the imam because he has not completed his prayer. So we say: stand up and make up what you missed. Then, if the imam’s forgetfulness occurred after this latecomer joined him, it is obligatory for the latecomer to prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim. But if the imam’s forgetfulness occurred before this latecomer joined him, then it is not obligatory for the latecomer to prostrate for forgetfulness, because he did not catch it with his imam. An example of this: the imam made a mistake in the first rak'ah and prostrated three times. Is this prostration for forgetfulness before the taslim or after it?
The student: Before the salam.
The student: After it.
The Shaykh : Because it is an addition. Now, the latecomer joined him in the second rak'ah. When the imam said the taslim, the latecomer stood up to make up the rak'ah he missed. Is it obligatory for this latecomer to prostrate for forgetfulness? Answer, everyone. Answer with a clear answer.
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Now, it is not obligatory for him. Why? Because he did not catch the imam’s forgetfulness. The imam made a mistake in the first rak'ah, and this man joined him in the second. Now.
Another example: A latecomer joined the imam in the second rak'ah, and the imam prostrated three times in the second rak'ah, then said the taslim and prostrated after the taslim. The latecomer stood up to make up what he missed. Does he prostrate for forgetfulness or not?
The student: He prostrates.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because he caught it.
The Shaykh : Because he caught the imam’s forgetfulness. Perfect. May Allah bless you. Good. I also have a question: The imam stood up for a fifth rak'ah, and the people reminded him.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : In the case of the imam standing up in error, that is settled. Give us another one.
The Shaykh : If the imam’s prostration for forgetfulness is before the taslim, then it is obligatory for this person to follow the imam, because the one who joins the prayer late is not permitted to stand up to make up what he missed until the imam’s prayer is complete. However, if the imam’s prostration is after the taslim, we tell this man who missed part of the prayer: stand up and do not prostrate with the imam, because you cannot follow in this case, since following is only possible by saying the taslim with the imam. And this latecomer cannot say the taslim with the imam because he has not completed his prayer. So we say: stand up and make up what you missed. Then, if the imam’s forgetfulness occurred after this latecomer joined him, it is obligatory for the latecomer to prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim. But if the imam’s forgetfulness occurred before this latecomer joined him, then it is not obligatory for the latecomer to prostrate for forgetfulness, because he did not catch it with his imam. An example of this: the imam made a mistake in the first rak'ah and prostrated three times. Is this prostration for forgetfulness before the taslim or after it?
The student: Before the salam.
The student: After it.
The Shaykh : Because it is an addition. Now, the latecomer joined him in the second rak'ah. When the imam said the taslim, the latecomer stood up to make up the rak'ah he missed. Is it obligatory for this latecomer to prostrate for forgetfulness? Answer, everyone. Answer with a clear answer.
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Now, it is not obligatory for him. Why? Because he did not catch the imam’s forgetfulness. The imam made a mistake in the first rak'ah, and this man joined him in the second. Now.
Another example: A latecomer joined the imam in the second rak'ah, and the imam prostrated three times in the second rak'ah, then said the taslim and prostrated after the taslim. The latecomer stood up to make up what he missed. Does he prostrate for forgetfulness or not?
The student: He prostrates.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because he caught it.
The Shaykh : Because he caught the imam’s forgetfulness. Perfect. May Allah bless you. Good. I also have a question: The imam stood up for a fifth rak'ah, and the people reminded him.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : In the case of the imam standing up in error, that is settled. Give us another one.