The one who joins the prayer late bows before the imam says, “Allah hears the one who praises Him”

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. If the imam rises from the bowing and has not yet said, “Allah hears the one who praises Him,” and the one who joined late saw him, then he bowed before the imam said it, is that rak'ah counted?

Answer:
The issue of counting the rak'ah is not tied to the saying of “Allah hears the one who praises Him”; it is tied to the rising, to the imam’s rising. If he rises from the bowing, the time for the commanded bowing has passed, even if he has not said “Allah hears the one who praises Him.” So the ruling is tied to the rising, the imam’s rising.