If one is unable to complete al-Fatihah, should he follow the imam or complete it?

Question:
From Riyadh, listener (A. S.), Abu Bandar. A somewhat long question in which he says: My problem is that I suffer from some heaviness in recitation, where the imam bows in the last two rak'ahs, or the third in Maghrib, before I am able to complete al-Fatihah. So if I complete al-Fatihah, he has already risen, or perhaps the imam rises from the bowing before I bow, especially if I pray behind an imam who shortens the prayer. The question here is: Do I proceed and complete al-Fatihah even if the imam has risen from the bowing? Or is it obligatory for me to follow the imam even if I am unable to complete al-Fatihah in all the rak'ahs, since I have heard some students of knowledge say that following the imam is more important and more obligatory than completing al-Fatihah in every rak'ah? Is this the correct view? Or is there another view that is more correct? Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
It is obligatory for you to follow the imam even if you do not complete al-Fatihah; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) . So you must bow with him when he bows, even if you have not completed al-Fatihah. However, you must pay attention to reciting al-Fatihah from the time of the takbir and from the time he rises from the prostration and stands upright. So you must pay attention to the recitation and not be slow. You should recite lightly so that you catch up and complete al-Fatihah before the bowing. And you must be cautious of waswas (whispers of Satan). Recite a good recitation, and praise be to Allah, even if you hasten in it somewhat.
Some people recite in a broken manner and are delayed. No. You must recite in a connected, clear manner from the time you say the takbir of intention, after the opening supplication, which is better. And so in the other rak'ahs, from the time you stand, you should hasten with the recitation with high energy, not with slowness and laziness.
But suppose he bows and you are ... on some verses, then bow with him, unless there is one or two verses remaining that you can complete; because he gives you time to complete them and then bow.
As for if you fear that he will rise, then bow and there is no blame on you, and praise be to Allah. This is like if you came and the imam was bowing; you would bow with him and al-Fatihah would be dropped from you. If the one who joins the prayer late comes and the imam is bowing and he bows with him, it suffices and al-Fatihah is dropped from him, as is authentic from the hadith of Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was bowing, so he bowed outside the row, then entered the row. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: .
And likewise, if the one praying behind the imam is ignorant of the legal ruling and did not recite al-Fatihah or forgot it, it suffices him; because the recitation is obligatory for the one praying behind the imam, but it is dropped due to forgetfulness, ignorance, and not catching up with the imam while he is standing. All of this is among the causes for it to be dropped if he is ignorant of the ruling, or forgets it, or forgets it, or comes and the imam is bowing, or the bowing is near and he is unable to recite it, it is dropped from him, and praise be to Allah. This is the correct view.
And the majority said: It is not obligatory for the one praying behind the imam. Most scholars said: It is not obligatory for the one praying behind the imam. And the correct view is that it is obligatory for the one praying behind the imam, but if he forgets it, or is ignorant of the ruling, or comes late and the imam is bowing or at the point of bowing, it is dropped from him, like the other obligations. As if he forgets "Subhana Rabbi al-A'la" or "Subhana Rabbi al-A'la" or "Rabbana wa laka al-hamd" or something similar, it suffices him and it is dropped from him. Because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): We said: Yes. He said: This indicates that the one praying behind the imam recites behind his imam, and that this is what is obligatory for him. But when he forgets it or is ignorant of the legal ruling, it is dropped from him [Al-Taghabun: 16].
The basis for this is the hadith of Abu Bakrah when he came and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was bowing. He bowed with him and he did not order him to repeat the rak'ah, even though he did not recite al-Fatihah; because he is excused due to not being present during the imam's standing. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.