Giving the salam with the imam without the qiyam of the fourth rak‘a

Question

(1) A follower is praying seated behind the imam. At the end of the third rak‘a the follower, thinking that this was the fourth rak‘a, sat down in the sitting (qa‘da). After reciting the “al-tahiyyat” and the rest, just before giving the salam, the imam goes into the ruku‘ of the fourth rak‘a; at that moment this follower too, without giving the salam, went into ruku‘ with the imam and in the same way finished the whole prayer with the imam. Will this follower’s prayer be valid? (2)

Answer

(1) His prayer is valid. (2) His prayer too is valid.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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