Section: As for the one who is not a masbuq (one who missed part of the prayer), if his Imam lapses and does not prostrate, does the follower prostrate? There are two narrations regarding this: First, he prostrates. This is the opinion of Ibn Sirin, al-Hakam, Qatadah, Malik, al-Layth, al-Shafi'i, and Abu Thawr. Ibn 'Aqil said: This is the more correct view, because the follower's prayer was deficient due to the Imam's lapse and was not rectified by his [the Imam's] prostration, so it is incumbent upon the follower to rectify it. Second, he does not prostrate. This has been narrated from 'Ata', al-Hasan, al-Nakha'i, al-Qasim, Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman, al-Thawri, and the People of Opinion; because the follower only prostrates as a follower, so if the Imam does not prostrate, the requirement for the follower's prostration does not exist. This applies if the Imam omitted it due to an excuse. If he omitted it before the salutation intentionally, and the Imam is someone who does not believe that the prostration is obligatory, he is like one who omitted it out of forgetfulness. If he believes it is obligatory, his prayer is invalidated. Does the follower's prayer become invalidated? There are two views: One is that it is invalidated, because he omitted an obligation in the prayer intentionally, so the follower's prayer is invalidated, like omitting the first tashahhud. The second is that it is not invalidated, because nothing remains of the prayer except the salutation.

Section: If the follower stands up to complete what he missed, and his Imam prostrates after the salutation, his ruling is the ruling of one standing up from the first tashahhud. If his Imam prostrates before he (the follower) has stood upright, he is obliged to return. If he has stood upright but has not begun the recitation, he should not return, though if he does return, it is permissible. If he has begun the recitation, he has no right to return. Ahmad stated this clearly. Al-Athram said: It was said to Abu 'Abd Allah: A man caught part of the prayer, and when he stood to complete it, the Imam was found to be performing the prostration of forgetfulness? He said: If he had acted upon his standing and had begun the recitation, he should continue, then prostrate. I said: What if he had not yet stood upright? He said: He should return as long as he has not acted. It was said to him: He had stood upright? He said: When he has stood upright and has commenced the act of completing, he should prostrate after he finishes his completion. This is because he stood from an obligation to a pillar, similar to standing from the first tashahhud. Ibn 'Aqil mentioned that there are three narrations regarding this. This is more appropriate, and it is explicitly stated in what we have narrated.