If the imam bows and you arrive late, and you catch the bowing, is that rak'ah counted?
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The questioner : If the imam bows and you arrive late, and you catch the bowing, is that rak'ah counted? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : If a person enters while the imam is bowing, then he says the takbir for entering the prayer while standing upright, and then bows before the imam raises his head from the bowing, he has caught the rak'ah.
The evidence for this is that Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was bowing, so he hurried and bowed before reaching the row, then he entered the row. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer, he said to Abu Bakrah:Sunan Abi Dawud 683Sahih (Al-Albani).
He did not order him to repeat the rak'ah that he had caught. If he had not caught it, he would have ordered him to make it up. Since he did not order him to do so, it is known that this rak'ah, whose bowing he caught, is valid.
The Shaykh : If a person enters while the imam is bowing, then he says the takbir for entering the prayer while standing upright, and then bows before the imam raises his head from the bowing, he has caught the rak'ah.
The evidence for this is that Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was bowing, so he hurried and bowed before reaching the row, then he entered the row. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer, he said to Abu Bakrah:
May Allah increase your eagerness! But do not do it again.
زادك الله حرصاً ولا تعدHe did not order him to repeat the rak'ah that he had caught. If he had not caught it, he would have ordered him to make it up. Since he did not order him to do so, it is known that this rak'ah, whose bowing he caught, is valid.