A man caught up with the imam in the second rak'ah of Fajr, and when he stood to complete the second rak'ah, the imam was reminded that he had left out a prostration in the first rak'ah, so he stood up
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The questioner : I caught up with the imam in the second rak'ah of the Fajr prayer, then I stood up after the salam to complete the other rak'ah that remained for me. The imam was reminded that he had left out a prostration in the first rak'ah, so he stood up to perform a rak'ah. I did not follow him; rather, I performed my rak'ah, said the salam, and finished before the imam.
The Shaykh : Is the question clear now? He says that he caught up with the imam in the last rak'ah of the Fajr prayer, and the imam said the salam and then stood up to make up the rak'ah that he missed. Is that clear now, or not? Okay, then the imam remembered that he had forgotten a prostration from the first rak'ah. If a worshipper forgets a prostration from a rak'ah until he reaches its place in the following rak'ah, the first rak'ah is voided and the second becomes a substitute for it. This imam, when he remembered that he had left out a prostration from the first rak'ah, stood up and performed a complete rak'ah, said the salam, and prostrated for forgetfulness. The imam's action is correct. But as for the one who stood up to make up what he missed, does he join the imam when the imam stood up to make up the first rak'ah, or does he continue in his prayer and say the salam? This man says that he continued in his prayer and said the salam and did not join the imam. Is his prayer valid?
And the answer is: Yes, his prayer is valid. In such a situation, it is permissible for him to continue making up his prayer because he has separated from the imam with an excuse. It is also permissible for him to return and pray with his imam and complete what he missed afterwards. There is no harm in this because he is excused in it.
The Shaykh : Is the question clear now? He says that he caught up with the imam in the last rak'ah of the Fajr prayer, and the imam said the salam and then stood up to make up the rak'ah that he missed. Is that clear now, or not? Okay, then the imam remembered that he had forgotten a prostration from the first rak'ah. If a worshipper forgets a prostration from a rak'ah until he reaches its place in the following rak'ah, the first rak'ah is voided and the second becomes a substitute for it. This imam, when he remembered that he had left out a prostration from the first rak'ah, stood up and performed a complete rak'ah, said the salam, and prostrated for forgetfulness. The imam's action is correct. But as for the one who stood up to make up what he missed, does he join the imam when the imam stood up to make up the first rak'ah, or does he continue in his prayer and say the salam? This man says that he continued in his prayer and said the salam and did not join the imam. Is his prayer valid?
And the answer is: Yes, his prayer is valid. In such a situation, it is permissible for him to continue making up his prayer because he has separated from the imam with an excuse. It is also permissible for him to return and pray with his imam and complete what he missed afterwards. There is no harm in this because he is excused in it.