If a worshipper enters the mosque and finds the imam bowing, and he bows with the imam before reaching the row, and the imam rises before he reaches the row

The questioner: My master, if a worshipper enters the mosque, and upon entering the mosque he finds the imam in the opening takbir and the imam is about to bow, so the worshipper bows when ... ?

The Shaykh: How did he find him in the opening takbir and about to bow?

The questioner: No, excuse me; in the bowing, he was about to bow; so he entered the mosque door, and he found the imam bowing, so he bowed with the imam’s bowing ... to the row, and the imam stood up before he entered, meaning when he entered ... .

The Shaykh: Before he was able to join the row?

The questioner: Yes.

Another questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh: And upon you peace.

The questioner : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
So is the unit of prayer counted for him or not?

The Shaykh: It is counted.

Another questioner : How is the Shaykh?

The Shaykh: Welcome, Abu Mu'adh.
It is counted as a unit of prayer.
Welcome, Abu Mu'adh, how are you?

The questioner : The evidence for this?

The Shaykh: The unit of prayer is counted as long as he participated with the imam in the bowing, even if he was outside the row; because the Sunnah is that whoever enters the mosque, as I mentioned, and finds the imam bowing, should bow and participate with the imam in the bowing, then creep along while bowing until he joins the row, and there is no harm if he is not able to join the row until after the imam has raised his head; the important thing is that he participated with him in the bowing, and whoever participates with the imam in the bowing has a unit of prayer counted for him, but many scholars do not approve of bowing outside the row and then creeping and walking while bowing to the row, but the Sunnah that is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is explicit that whoever enters the mosque and finds the imam bowing, let him bow where he is, then let him walk while bowing until he catches up with the imam, and if he catches up with the imam and the imam has raised his head from the bowing, he raises his head from the bowing, and he walks a few steps until he joins the row. This is the Sunnah.