What is the ruling on a latecomer (masbuq) who thought the Imam would sit for the first tashahhud, so he sat and recited, then stood up? Does he have to perform sujood al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness)? What is the ruling on sujood al-sahw for a latecomer? Does the Imam bear it on his behalf? And when does the latecomer recite the first tashahhud? Is the opening takbeer (takbeerat al-ihram) sufficient when catching the Imam in prostration? And what is the ruling on someone who precedes the Imam out of ignorance of his slowness?

The majority of scholars hold that the Imam bears the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw) on behalf of the congregant as long as the congregant is following him. This is the preponderant opinion based on the hadith: "There is no forgetfulness upon one who is behind the Imam." As for the Hanbalis, they believe that the Imam bears the prostration of forgetfulness on behalf of the congregant who joined the Imam from the beginning of the prayer, unlike one who joined in the middle of it, in which case he performs the prostration of forgetfulness for himself.

Regarding the Tashahhud: if you join the Imam in the second rak'ah, you sit with him for the first Tashahhud, then you recite the Tashahhud in your last rak'ah, perform the missed rak'ah, and recite the Tashahhud before the salutation (taslim).

If you join the Imam while he is prostrating, you say the opening takbir (Takbirat al-Ihram) and descend to prostration without an additional takbir for the transition. If you join the Imam before he rises from the bowing of the first rak'ah, then you are considered to have joined his prayer from its beginning, and the Imam bears the prostration of forgetfulness on your behalf according to the Hanbalis and others.