What is the ruling for someone who found the imam prostrating in the second prostration of the second rak’ah in the ‘Asr prayer, then said the takbirat al-ihram and prostrated, following the imam inadvertently, and when the imam sat for the first tashahhud, what should the latecomer (masbuq) do regarding the two rak’ahs he missed? And should he recite half of the tashahhud or complete it? And should he recite a surah with Al-Fatihah in the two rak’ahs that are the beginning of his prayer? And should he recite half of the tashahhud in the imam's final tashahhud (which is the first for the latecomer)? And should he stand up saying the takbir after the imam’s taslim? And should the latecomer intend to follow the imam?

1. If a latecomer joins the Imam while he is prostrating, he should say the opening takbir (Allahu Akbar) and then prostrate without saying another takbir. His following of the Imam in prostration and rising is valid.

2. The latecomer completes the first and second tashahhud with the Imam.

3. What the latecomer catches up with is considered the beginning of his prayer. So, if he missed two rak'ahs of a four-rak'ah prayer (such as Asr), he stands up after the Imam's taslim and performs two rak'ahs with only Al-Fatihah.

4. The latecomer who missed two rak'ahs stands up after the Imam's taslim and says Allahu Akbar to make up what he missed.

5. The ma'mum (follower), whether a latecomer or not, intends to follow the Imam behind whom he is praying.