If the imam adds a rak'ah to the prayer, should the one who joins late follow him and count that rak'ah?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : If a ma'mum joins an imam who is praying the 'Asr or 'Isha' prayer, which are four-rak'ah prayers, and the imam adds a fifth rak'ah, is that rak'ah counted for the one who joined late?
The Shaykh : Meaning, he joined him in the second rak'ah?
The questioner : He joined him in the second rak'ah, and the imam said the taslim after the fifth rak'ah. Does he say the taslim with him?
The Shaykh : How many rak'ahs did he pray?
The questioner : He prayed four, counting that the imam added a fifth.
The Shaykh : So, if he performs five, would he not have added to the prayer intentionally? I ask you, say yes or no.
The questioner : Yes, he added.
The Shaykh : Is it permissible for a person to add to the prayer intentionally?
The questioner : No, it is not permissible.
The Shaykh : So, he should say the taslim with them. That is it.
The questioner : Now, if he enters during the fourth, which is the last one.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And he adds one, does he count it from the beginning?
The Shaykh : If the ma'mum enters during the last one, which is the fifth, the fifth out of forgetfulness, now, when he entered, did he believe it was the first? Did he think this rak'ah was the fourth or the fifth?
The questioner : No, he means the ma'mum was hearing the other ma'mumin reciting tasbih, so he knew that the imam had added a fifth.
The Shaykh : Yes, but did he believe that the imam added the fifth intentionally?
The questioner : No, definitely not.
The Shaykh : He did not believe so. Therefore, he entered with them in a prescribed manner, so he counts the rak'ah. And when the imam says the taslim, he performs three, clear? You said this because some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: he does not count the added one, but that is a weak opinion. The imam is excused because he added it out of forgetfulness, and you, the one who joined late, are not excused because you will add a rak'ah while being certain that it is an addition, yes.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : If a ma'mum joins an imam who is praying the 'Asr or 'Isha' prayer, which are four-rak'ah prayers, and the imam adds a fifth rak'ah, is that rak'ah counted for the one who joined late?
The Shaykh : Meaning, he joined him in the second rak'ah?
The questioner : He joined him in the second rak'ah, and the imam said the taslim after the fifth rak'ah. Does he say the taslim with him?
The Shaykh : How many rak'ahs did he pray?
The questioner : He prayed four, counting that the imam added a fifth.
The Shaykh : So, if he performs five, would he not have added to the prayer intentionally? I ask you, say yes or no.
The questioner : Yes, he added.
The Shaykh : Is it permissible for a person to add to the prayer intentionally?
The questioner : No, it is not permissible.
The Shaykh : So, he should say the taslim with them. That is it.
The questioner : Now, if he enters during the fourth, which is the last one.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And he adds one, does he count it from the beginning?
The Shaykh : If the ma'mum enters during the last one, which is the fifth, the fifth out of forgetfulness, now, when he entered, did he believe it was the first? Did he think this rak'ah was the fourth or the fifth?
The questioner : No, he means the ma'mum was hearing the other ma'mumin reciting tasbih, so he knew that the imam had added a fifth.
The Shaykh : Yes, but did he believe that the imam added the fifth intentionally?
The questioner : No, definitely not.
The Shaykh : He did not believe so. Therefore, he entered with them in a prescribed manner, so he counts the rak'ah. And when the imam says the taslim, he performs three, clear? You said this because some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: he does not count the added one, but that is a weak opinion. The imam is excused because he added it out of forgetfulness, and you, the one who joined late, are not excused because you will add a rak'ah while being certain that it is an addition, yes.