What is the ruling on the one who issues a fatwa stating that if one catches up with the imam while he is in prostration, he must first bow and then catch up with the imam?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : The questioner, O esteemed Shaykh, says: I heard a mufti on television issuing a fatwa and saying: If you enter and the imam is in prostration, you bow and complete your bowing, then you catch up with the imam while he is in prostration and prostrate with him, thereby having caught up with the rak'ah?
The Shaykh : Which television did you hear it on?
The questioner : The questioner says: The television of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Shaykh : And is the mufti known?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If Allah wills, you will give us his name after this so that we can write to him.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : This fatwa is wrong, contrary to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:329 So if one catches up with the imam in prostration, it is obligatory for him to prostrate with the imam, and it is not permissible for him to make up the bowing before prostrating with the imam, because the Messenger said: Sahih al-Bukhari 635 And this man has missed the bowing, so how can he pray the bowing when he has missed it with the imam?!
So this fatwa is undoubtedly wrong, but after the session ends, inform us of his name so that we may contact him, if Allah wills, and clarify to him the error of this fatwa.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : The questioner, O esteemed Shaykh, says: I heard a mufti on television issuing a fatwa and saying: If you enter and the imam is in prostration, you bow and complete your bowing, then you catch up with the imam while he is in prostration and prostrate with him, thereby having caught up with the rak'ah?
The Shaykh : Which television did you hear it on?
The questioner : The questioner says: The television of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Shaykh : And is the mufti known?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If Allah wills, you will give us his name after this so that we can write to him.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : This fatwa is wrong, contrary to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If you hear the Iqamah, you must walk to the prayer (place) with tranquility and dignity, and do not hasten; and whatever portion of the prayer you get (along with the Imam) offer it, and complete afterwards whatever you missed.
إذا سمعتم الإقامة فامشوا إلى الصلاة وعليكم السكينة والوقار، ولا تسرعوا، فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواand pray whatever you get (with the people) and complete the rest which you have missed
فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتمواSo this fatwa is undoubtedly wrong, but after the session ends, inform us of his name so that we may contact him, if Allah wills, and clarify to him the error of this fatwa.