If the imam bows and the ma'mum does not bow until after the imam has risen from the bowing, is the rak'ah counted for him? And likewise, if he misses standing with the imam after the bowing?

The questioner : ... meaning the imam bowed and you were still reading a little, you were delayed, so he rose from the bowing. You returned, you completed this, it causes you to lose the rak'ah.

The Shaykh : Here, the rak'ah was missed for you.

The questioner : And even if you were with him from the beginning of the bowing...

The Shaykh : And even what?

The questioner : From the beginning of the prayer with the imam.

The Shaykh : I know, but you did not join the imam in the bowing, so you missed the bowing, just as if you came and the imam was bowing. You said Allahu Akbar while bowing, he said Allahu Akbar while rising. You did not catch the bowing, and consequently you did not catch the rak'ah, so you must perform it.

The questioner : Now, standing after the bowing, if you did not catch it with him? Did you miss a rak'ah? What is it that constitutes your loss of the rak'ah and the necessity of repeating it?

The Shaykh : The difference is that there is scholarly consensus that bowing is a pillar of the prayer, whereas standing after the bowing is a matter of scholarly disagreement. This is where the difference in the ruling comes from.

The questioner : Does that mean, and following that, prostration? What does that mean?

The Shaykh : And that is correct.

The questioner : If you did not catch him while he was prostrating and you were with him, you repeat the rak'ah.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.