A man caught the 'Asr prayer after missing two of its rak'ahs, and the imam prayed two extra rak'ahs by mistake, so he prayed with him. What is required of him?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him), a man caught the 'Asr prayer after missing two of its rak'ahs. The imam made a mistake and added two rak'ahs to the prayer. Does the man who caught the prayer say the taslim, or does he make up what he missed of the prayer? What is the ruling on the two extra rak'ahs in the prayer? Are they invalid? If they are invalid, does that mean the latecomer to the prayer prayed two invalid rak'ahs or valid ones?
The Shaykh : Adding two rak'ahs to the prayer invalidates the prayer if it is done intentionally. In fact, even if it were one rak'ah or one prostration, if it is done intentionally, it invalidates the prayer.
If it is by mistake, the prayer is not invalidated. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed the Zuhr prayer with five rak'ahs. When he said the taslim, it was said to him: This is the case of the one who entered with the imam after the imam had prayed two rak'ahs, and then the imam made a mistake and added two rak'ahs. We tell him: Say the taslim with the imam, because you have prayed four rak'ahs, and it is not permissible for you to add anything.
As for the imam, we say: He was inattentive and forgot, and there is nothing on him. But you cannot add anything, not even one prostration, to the prayer. However, I say to you: May Allah reward you. Is this a real situation? I mean, is it possible for a person to pray two extra rak'ahs without noticing or being alerted? Answer: Ah, one rak'ah is possible, but to pray two rak'ahs while people are behind him and they do not notice him? That is far-fetched.
The questioner : But the ma'mum in this case leaves the first tashahhud. The ma'mum?
The Shaykh : He leaves the first tashahhud following his imam. Are you not, if you entered with the imam in the second rak'ah of the Zuhr prayer...
The Shaykh : Adding two rak'ahs to the prayer invalidates the prayer if it is done intentionally. In fact, even if it were one rak'ah or one prostration, if it is done intentionally, it invalidates the prayer.
If it is by mistake, the prayer is not invalidated. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed the Zuhr prayer with five rak'ahs. When he said the taslim, it was said to him:
Did I add to the prayer? He said: What is that? They said: You prayed five rak'ahs. So he folded his legs, then prostrated two prostrations, then said the taslim, and then he said to them: If something had happened in the prayer, I would have informed you of it.
أزيد في الصلاة ؟ قال وما ذاك ؟ قالوا : صليت خمسا فثنى رجليه ثم سجد سجدتين ثم سلم ثم قال لهم : إنه لو حدث شيء في الصلاة لأنبأتكم بهAs for the imam, we say: He was inattentive and forgot, and there is nothing on him. But you cannot add anything, not even one prostration, to the prayer. However, I say to you: May Allah reward you. Is this a real situation? I mean, is it possible for a person to pray two extra rak'ahs without noticing or being alerted? Answer: Ah, one rak'ah is possible, but to pray two rak'ahs while people are behind him and they do not notice him? That is far-fetched.
The questioner : But the ma'mum in this case leaves the first tashahhud. The ma'mum?
The Shaykh : He leaves the first tashahhud following his imam. Are you not, if you entered with the imam in the second rak'ah of the Zuhr prayer...