What is the ruling on one who enters the mosque and finds the imam in prostration, then waits until he stands for the next rak'ah to join him?
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The Shaykh : Yes, please.
The questioner : In the case of entering the mosque and catching the imam in prostration, whether in the first rak'ah or the last rak'ah,
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : some wait until the imam raises his head, while some prostrate; there was, in fact, some discussion among the congregation.
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, very well. The answer is: if he fears that this is the last rak'ah, let him wait, because if it is the last rak'ah and he joins them, he will not have caught the congregation. But if he does not know, or if he knows that it is not the last rak'ah because he heard the iqamah beforehand, then he should join him and hasten to enter, so that first, he may be in compliance with the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): and second, so that he may obtain the reward of the prostration and the glorification in the prostration, and the increased time in worship. Do you understand now? So there is a distinction here. Yes.
The questioner : In the case of entering the mosque and catching the imam in prostration, whether in the first rak'ah or the last rak'ah,
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : some wait until the imam raises his head, while some prostrate; there was, in fact, some discussion among the congregation.
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, very well. The answer is: if he fears that this is the last rak'ah, let him wait, because if it is the last rak'ah and he joins them, he will not have caught the congregation. But if he does not know, or if he knows that it is not the last rak'ah because he heard the iqamah beforehand, then he should join him and hasten to enter, so that first, he may be in compliance with the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):