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, is it counted?
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The questioner : If the worshippers enter the mosque, and upon entering he finds the imam in the opening takbir, and the imam intends to bow, and the worshipper bows at...?
The Shaykh : How is it? In the opening takbir, and he intends to bow.
The questioner : Excuse me, in the bowing, they are in the bowing, so he entered the mosque door and found the imam bowing, so he bowed with the imam’s bowing... to... so the imam stood up before he entered...
The Shaykh : He was not able to join the row?
The questioner : Yes, so is it counted as a unit of prayer or not?
The Shaykh : It is counted as a unit of prayer.
The questioner : The evidence for this.
The Shaykh : As long as he participated with the imam in the bowing, even if he was outside the row, because the recommended practice 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. 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, it is counted as a unit of prayer for him. However, many scholars do not approve of bowing outside the row and then creeping and walking while bowing to the row. But the recommended practice 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 walks a few steps until he joins the row. This is the recommended practice.
The Shaykh : How is it? In the opening takbir, and he intends to bow.
The questioner : Excuse me, in the bowing, they are in the bowing, so he entered the mosque door and found the imam bowing, so he bowed with the imam’s bowing... to... so the imam stood up before he entered...
The Shaykh : He was not able to join the row?
The questioner : Yes, so is it counted as a unit of prayer or not?
The Shaykh : It is counted as a unit of prayer.
The questioner : The evidence for this.
The Shaykh : As long as he participated with the imam in the bowing, even if he was outside the row, because the recommended practice 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. 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, it is counted as a unit of prayer for him. However, many scholars do not approve of bowing outside the row and then creeping and walking while bowing to the row. But the recommended practice 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 walks a few steps until he joins the row. This is the recommended practice.