Entering the prayer with someone at the end of the imam's prayer, having missed a rak'ah, and experiencing doubt about whether one missed a rak'ah with the imam or not, while the person who entered
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The questioner : I and a person entered the prayer at the end of the imam's prayer, and we had missed a rak'ah. I experienced doubt about whether I had missed a rak'ah with the imam or not, but the person who entered with me stood up and made up a rak'ah, so I stood up and made up a rak'ah, then I prostrated for forgetfulness. Is my prayer valid?
The Shaykh : Yes, his prayer is valid. This happens frequently to some people: he and his companion enter with the imam, then he experiences doubt and follows his companion, and there is no blame on him for this. However, if he knows his companion is correct and no doubt remains with him, then he does not prostrate for forgetfulness.
And if he has doubt, but what his companion did is more likely to be correct in his view, then he prostrates for forgetfulness after the taslim. An example of this is: two men enter with the imam, one of whom stands up to pray what he missed, and the other hesitates, but it is more likely in his view that he is deficient like his companion. In this case, he stands up and prays the rak'ah. Then, if doubt remains, he prostrates for forgetfulness after the taslim. If he is certain that his companion is correct, then he does not prostrate.
The Shaykh : Yes, his prayer is valid. This happens frequently to some people: he and his companion enter with the imam, then he experiences doubt and follows his companion, and there is no blame on him for this. However, if he knows his companion is correct and no doubt remains with him, then he does not prostrate for forgetfulness.
And if he has doubt, but what his companion did is more likely to be correct in his view, then he prostrates for forgetfulness after the taslim. An example of this is: two men enter with the imam, one of whom stands up to pray what he missed, and the other hesitates, but it is more likely in his view that he is deficient like his companion. In this case, he stands up and prays the rak'ah. Then, if doubt remains, he prostrates for forgetfulness after the taslim. If he is certain that his companion is correct, then he does not prostrate.