Is the bowing takbir obligatory for the one praying behind the imam?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Why is the bowing takbir not obligatory for him, even though the takbirs of transition are among the obligatory acts?
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for them, because first, the takbir of the rak'ah is included in the imam's opening takbir, and second, if he fears that the imam will begin the bowing, he does not say the takbir.
The questioner : What is his state?
The Shaykh : They are two acts of worship of the same kind, so they overlap.
The questioner : They coincide.
The Shaykh : In one time, in one time.
The questioner : So they overlap. Good.
The Shaykh : What do you say about this reasoning, O Muhammad? Is this reasoning correct or not correct?
The questioner : From one angle it is correct, but a point may be raised against it, namely that this is an obligatory act and the other is a pillar. May Allah keep you safe.
The Shaykh : No, no.
The questioner : Because I answer this reasoning with two things: it was said that the takbir of entering prayer occurs while he is standing, whereas the takbir of bowing occurs when he moves into the bowing.
The Shaykh : Yes, so they do not coincide in one time. Good, this is one point. And on this basis, we say that the takbir of bowing is necessary, and this is the view of some scholars. But those who held the first view say that this is also a matter of easing the burden, because a person may be eager to catch the bowing, and if he were occupied with the takbir, he might miss the bowing. Good.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for them, because first, the takbir of the rak'ah is included in the imam's opening takbir, and second, if he fears that the imam will begin the bowing, he does not say the takbir.
The questioner : What is his state?
The Shaykh : They are two acts of worship of the same kind, so they overlap.
The questioner : They coincide.
The Shaykh : In one time, in one time.
The questioner : So they overlap. Good.
The Shaykh : What do you say about this reasoning, O Muhammad? Is this reasoning correct or not correct?
The questioner : From one angle it is correct, but a point may be raised against it, namely that this is an obligatory act and the other is a pillar. May Allah keep you safe.
The Shaykh : No, no.
The questioner : Because I answer this reasoning with two things: it was said that the takbir of entering prayer occurs while he is standing, whereas the takbir of bowing occurs when he moves into the bowing.
The Shaykh : Yes, so they do not coincide in one time. Good, this is one point. And on this basis, we say that the takbir of bowing is necessary, and this is the view of some scholars. But those who held the first view say that this is also a matter of easing the burden, because a person may be eager to catch the bowing, and if he were occupied with the takbir, he might miss the bowing. Good.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 2933أدرك الإمام راكعًا فكبَّر للإحرام لماذا لا تلزمه ...📔 الشرح الممتع على زاد المستقنع - ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.