The takbeer for starting the prayer may count for the takbeer for bowing too
Question What is the ruling on one who finds the imam in the process of rising from bowing, so he says the takbeer to start praying (takbeer al-ihraam), and includes the takbeer for bowing in it. Is his prayer valid or not?. Praise be to Allah. If a person catches up with the imam when…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
If a person catches up with the imam when he is bowing, his
first takbeer will be sufficient, according to the more correct of the two
scholarly opinions, because it is the more important obligation, and the
greatest pillar or essential part of the prayer, without which the prayer
is not valid. With regard to the takbeer for bowing, it was said that it
is obligatory, and it was said that it is Sunnah, so it is of less
importance that the first takbeer. If there is no time, the first takbeer,
which is a essential part of the prayer, will suffice for the takbeer of
bowing too. But if he does both of them, that is better and is more on the
safe side, and after that he may bow; so he may say the first takbeer
whilst standing then say takbeer whilst leaning forward for bowing. This
is the most complete way. But if he does not say the second takbeer and
limits it to the first one, that is sufficient according to the correct
view. End quote.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him)
