If one catches the imam in bowing, he has caught the rak'ah

The questioner : Hello, yes. Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace.

The questioner : Shaykh Muhammad, how are you, Shaykh?

The Shaykh : May Allah keep you well.

The questioner : I have two questions, Your Eminence. The first question: I entered the mosque to perform the prayer. The imam was standing with the worshippers, and when he entered the prayer, the imam bowed,

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : So when the imam said the closing salam at the end of the prayer, it occurred to me that my two rak'ahs were not valid because I did not recite al-Fatihah. So I stood up and prayed a rak'ah with al-Fatihah. Is there anything required of me in that?

The Shaykh : As for what you did, there is nothing required of you. As for what is to come, know that if you catch the imam in bowing and bow with him, you have caught the rak'ah.

The questioner : Yes.