How to make up the first missed rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer

Question: This is a message from the presenter, Ali Abdullah Hani al-Maliki, from the land of Banu Malik, the branch of Banu Harb. He says: If I find a congregation for the obligatory prayers of four rak'ahs, and I have missed the first rak'ah, then I join them for the second rak'ah, then the tashahhud, then the third and fourth rak'ahs, so that I have prayed three rak'ahs, how do I add the fourth rak'ah?

Answer:
If a person misses a rak'ah of a four-rak'ah prayer, such as Zuhr, 'Asr, or 'Isha, and he prays with the imam the three rak'ahs that he caught, and the imam concludes the prayer from the last, fourth rak'ah, then he stands up and performs only one rak'ah to complete the prayer. He recites only al-Fatihah in it, because what he caught is the beginning of his prayer, and what he makes up is the end of it. So, when the imam concludes the prayer and he stands up, he recites al-Fatihah, then bows, then rises, then prostrates twice, then recites the tashahhud in full, then concludes the prayer. This is what is obligatory for him.
As for sitting with the imam and reciting the tashahhud, that is not obligatory. Reciting the tashahhud is not required; he only sat to follow, meaning he sat with his imam in the last rak'ah to follow him only. It is not obligatory for him to recite the tashahhud in that sitting. However, if he recites it and sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that does not harm him and there is no blame on him. The tashahhud that is obligatory for him is only after he makes up the missed rak'ah. So, when he makes it up, he recites the tashahhud, sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), makes supplication, then concludes the prayer. This is what is prescribed for him. Yes.