What is the criterion for the prostration for forgetfulness for the one who joins the prayer late if the imam forgets?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, may Allah preserve you: Regarding the prostration for forgetfulness, what is the criterion, Shaykh? If a person enters the prayer with the imam and the imam has already forgotten in the first rak'ah, and the person joins him in the second rak'ah, does the person prostrate?
The Shaykh : If the imam’s prostration is before the taslim, then he must prostrate with the imam, because the imam’s prayer has not yet ended. And if his prostration is after the taslim—listen, men—if the imam’s prostration is after the taslim, then he should stand up when the imam says the taslim from the prayer and not prostrate for forgetfulness. Do you understand? What did you understand now?
The questioner : If the imam, the one praying behind him, if it is after the taslim.
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah!
The questioner : If the imam’s prostration, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : If the imam’s prostration is before the taslim, do you understand? That is, if he prostrates before he says the taslim, then it is obligatory for the one praying behind him to follow him, because the imam’s prayer has not yet been completed. Do you understand?
The questioner : The one praying behind him follows the imam.
The Shaykh : He follows the imam if he prostrates before the taslim, not if the place of prostration is before the taslim. If he prostrates before the taslim, even if the place of prostration is after the taslim, it does not matter. If the imam prostrates before he says the taslim, then he should prostrate with him.
The questioner : The one praying behind him follows the imam.
The Shaykh : And if the imam says the taslim and makes the prostration after the taslim, then he does not follow him; he stands up and makes up what he missed, and does not prostrate for forgetfulness, because the forgetfulness of the imam was before he entered with him. That is all, and Allah knows best.
Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
The Shaykh : If the imam’s prostration is before the taslim, then he must prostrate with the imam, because the imam’s prayer has not yet ended. And if his prostration is after the taslim—listen, men—if the imam’s prostration is after the taslim, then he should stand up when the imam says the taslim from the prayer and not prostrate for forgetfulness. Do you understand? What did you understand now?
The questioner : If the imam, the one praying behind him, if it is after the taslim.
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah!
The questioner : If the imam’s prostration, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : If the imam’s prostration is before the taslim, do you understand? That is, if he prostrates before he says the taslim, then it is obligatory for the one praying behind him to follow him, because the imam’s prayer has not yet been completed. Do you understand?
The questioner : The one praying behind him follows the imam.
The Shaykh : He follows the imam if he prostrates before the taslim, not if the place of prostration is before the taslim. If he prostrates before the taslim, even if the place of prostration is after the taslim, it does not matter. If the imam prostrates before he says the taslim, then he should prostrate with him.
The questioner : The one praying behind him follows the imam.
The Shaykh : And if the imam says the taslim and makes the prostration after the taslim, then he does not follow him; he stands up and makes up what he missed, and does not prostrate for forgetfulness, because the forgetfulness of the imam was before he entered with him. That is all, and Allah knows best.
Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.