Q. A latecomer enters the Masjid when the Imam is in Sajdah. Should he join the congregation (Jama’ah) immediately or should he wait for the Imam to rise from Sajdah and join the congregation thereafter?
A. The latecomer should recite the Takbir of Tahreem (the opening Takbir to commence the Salaah) and immediately join the Imaam in whatever position he is in. He should not wait for the Imaam to wake up from Sajdah or any other posture before commencing Salaah. (Ahsanul Fataawa 3/275)
The great scholar of Hadith, Imaam Abdullah bin Mubarak (Rahimahullah) said; “If a person finds the Imaam in Sajdah, he should join immediately. Perhaps, it is destined that in that particular Sajdah, Allah will pardon his sins.” (Tirmidhi)
Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ismaeel Bassa