What should a latecomer do if he stands to make up what he missed and the imam precedes him with the prostration of forgetfulness?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. I caught up with the imam for one unit of prayer in a four-unit prayer, and the imam concluded the prayer. I stood to make up the missed units, and then I saw him prostrate twice for forgetfulness. Is it obligatory for me to follow the imam in this prostration of forgetfulness, and when is its place, if it is required?
The Shaykh : If the imam prostrates for forgetfulness after the closing salam, and a person has missed units to make up, he should stand to complete his prayer and not follow the imam, because following the imam is impossible in this situation, since following is not complete unless one concludes the prayer with him, and he has not concluded his prayer. So he stands and completes his prayer. Then, when he is finished with his prayer, if he had caught up with the imam during his prostration of forgetfulness, he prostrates; that is, this latecomer prostrates after the salam. And if the imam forgot before the latecomer joined him, he owes nothing. Is that clear?
The questioner : Clear.
The Shaykh : If the imam prostrates for forgetfulness after the closing salam, and a person has missed units to make up, he should stand to complete his prayer and not follow the imam, because following the imam is impossible in this situation, since following is not complete unless one concludes the prayer with him, and he has not concluded his prayer. So he stands and completes his prayer. Then, when he is finished with his prayer, if he had caught up with the imam during his prostration of forgetfulness, he prostrates; that is, this latecomer prostrates after the salam. And if the imam forgot before the latecomer joined him, he owes nothing. Is that clear?
The questioner : Clear.