the follower should recite the opening supplication and seek refuge with Allah when the imam recites aloud. The apparent meaning of his words—may Allah have mercy on him—is that he does so even if he can hear the imam’s recitation. This is the view preferred by some scholars. They say: The Prophet ﷺ prohibited recitation only when the imam is reciting the Quran aloud. The opening supplication and seeking refuge with Allah are not recitation. However, this view is clearly open to objection, for the Messenger ﷺ said: “When he recites, listen attentively.” (1) This is general in meaning. Moreover, if one is commanded to listen attentively to the imam’s recitation, even to the recitation of the Quran, then non-Quranic remembrance is even more so, for we know that the Lawgiver prohibited recitation while the imam is reciting only for the sake of attentive listening, as Allah the Exalted says:
“When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent.” [al-A‘raf: 204]
Thus, the correct view on this issue is that he should neither recite the opening supplication nor seek refuge with Allah when the imam is reciting aloud. This is why the author of al-Rawd and others said, “unless he does not hear his imam’s recitation.” If he hears his imam’s recitation, then he remains silent; he neither recites the opening supplication nor seeks refuge with Allah. Accordingly, if you join an imam after he has finished reciting al-Fatihah and is reciting the surah after al-Fatihah, the opening supplication is waived for you. According to the stronger view, you recite al-Fatihah and seek refuge with Allah, because seeking refuge with Allah is connected to recitation.
Whoever bows or prostrates before his imam must rise so that he may perform it after him ………
His statement, “Whoever bows or prostrates before his imam must rise so that he may perform it after him.”
“Whoever” means: any follower who bows or prostrates before his imam must rise—that is, he must return from his bowing, if he is bowing, or from his prostration, if he is prostrating, so that he may perform it after him.