If a worshiper enters and finds the imam in prostration, does he enter or wait until he stands for the rak'ah?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. There are many worshipers when they enter the mosque.
The Shaykh : When?
The questioner : They enter the mosque, see that the imam has risen from bowing, and they wait until he completes the prostration.
The Shaykh : Until he stands for the second rak'ah.
The questioner : Thinking that they will not be rewarded for that and will not receive a reward.
The Shaykh : The point is, they wait until he stands.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, I say: This is a mistake on their part, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So he says: And these people caught the prostration, so let them pray it. And in another hadith, even though it is weak: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 591Da'if (Darussalam): And the most correct is that it is mawquf, but in any case: suffices for it.
So we say: They enter with him, they say the takbir of ihram, and they do not recite the opening supplication, they prostrate immediately.
And if they prostrate, do they say takbir?
According to our jurists (may Allah have mercy on them), they do not say takbir when they prostrate. They said because this is a transition to another pillar that does not catch the prayer, and also a transition to another pillar that does not follow the pillar he is in, which is standing. And so, if one catches the imam bowing, what?
He says takbir first for ihram, then says takbir for bowing. As for this one, he says takbir for ihram, then prostrates without takbir. But if he says takbir, I hope there is no harm in it. Yes.
The Shaykh : When?
The questioner : They enter the mosque, see that the imam has risen from bowing, and they wait until he completes the prostration.
The Shaykh : Until he stands for the second rak'ah.
The questioner : Thinking that they will not be rewarded for that and will not receive a reward.
The Shaykh : The point is, they wait until he stands.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, I say: This is a mistake on their part, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When you hear the iqamah, walk to the prayer with calmness and composure. Whatever you catch, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it.
إذا سمعتم الإقامة فامشوا إلى الصّلاة وعليكم السّكينة فما أدركتم فصلّوا وما فاتكم فأتمّواWhatever you catch, pray it.
ما أدركتم فصلّواWhen one of you comes to the Salat and (finds) the Imam is in a position, then do as the Imam is doing.
إذا أتى أحدكم الصّلاة والإمام على حال فليصنع كما يصنع الإمامWhatever you catch, pray it.
ما أدركتم فصلّواSo we say: They enter with him, they say the takbir of ihram, and they do not recite the opening supplication, they prostrate immediately.
And if they prostrate, do they say takbir?
According to our jurists (may Allah have mercy on them), they do not say takbir when they prostrate. They said because this is a transition to another pillar that does not catch the prayer, and also a transition to another pillar that does not follow the pillar he is in, which is standing. And so, if one catches the imam bowing, what?
He says takbir first for ihram, then says takbir for bowing. As for this one, he says takbir for ihram, then prostrates without takbir. But if he says takbir, I hope there is no harm in it. Yes.