is a single type. And if the place for prostration differs, they are two types. Some of our companions said: they are two types. Does two prostrations suffice for them, or four? There are two views. The companions of Al-Shafi'i have two views on this, similar to these, and a third view: that he needs to perform six prostrations, two prostrations for every lapse.

219 - Issue: He said: "And there is no prostration for a lapse upon the follower (ma'mum), unless his Imam lapses, then he prostrates with him."

The summary of this is that if the follower lapses without his Imam, there is no prostration upon him, according to the opinion of the generality of the scholars. It is narrated from Makhul that he stood up from the sitting position of his Imam, then he prostrated. Our argument is that Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam spoke behind the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and he did not command him to perform a prostration. Al-Daraqutni narrated in his "Sunan" from Ibn Umar that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "There is no lapse for the one behind the Imam; if his Imam lapses, it is upon him and upon those behind him." Furthermore, because the follower is a subordinate to the Imam, and his ruling is his ruling when he lapses, and likewise when he does not lapse. If the Imam lapses, it is incumbent upon the follower to follow him in the prostration, whether he lapsed with him or the Imam lapsed alone. Ibn al-Mundhir said: All those scholars whose opinions we preserve have reached a consensus on this. Ishaq mentioned that it is the consensus of the scholars, whether the prostration is before the salutation or after it, due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: "The Imam is only appointed to be followed, so when he prostrates, you prostrate." And due to the hadith of Ibn Umar, which we have narrated.