Following the latecomer to his imam

Question:
These are a set of questions we received from a listener of the program, but he did not mention his name. In his message, he says: If I come to the mosque and find the imam sitting for the first tashahhud, should I say takbir and then sit, or should I wait until he stands up?

Answer:
It is better for him to say takbir while standing, the takbir of ihram, and then sit; because several hadiths came with the command that the latecomer should do what his imam does, and that he should not wait, but rather if he comes to the imam while the imam is in a certain state, he should do as the imam does. So if he comes to him while he is prostrating, he prostrates; if he comes to him while he is bowing, he bows; and if he comes to him while he is sitting, he sits. This is the sunnah. He stands and says his first takbir, the takbir of ihram, while standing, and then he lowers himself into a sitting position.

The presenter: His other question is similar to the first one, and you have already answered it. He says: If I come to the mosque and find the imam prostrating or about to prostrate, should I say takbir and then prostrate with him, or should I wait until he stands up? Have you answered this?

Answer:
He says the first takbir and then lowers himself into prostration. Yes.