Q. If a person missed a few Rakaats of Salaah and he cannot remember the number of Rakaats of Salaah he missed, can he make up his missed Rakaats of Salaah by following the person that missed the same Rakaats of Salaah next to him?
A. A Masbooq (latecomer) may consider the actions/postures of another Masbooq making up his missed Rakaats of Salaah next to him to complete his own Salaah. However, a Masbooq cannot follow (make Iqtidaa of) another Masbooq as a follower (Muqtadi) follows the Imaam in Salaah as this will invalidate the Salaah. (Haashiyatut-Tahtaawi Ala Maraaqil Falaah 1/292)
Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ismaeel Bassa