bowed in the first rak‘ah, when he heard him reciting: “Has the account of the Overwhelming Event reached you?”

We say: Remain with the imam, and the imam’s second rak‘ah will complete your first rak‘ah. Then, when the imam concludes with the salām, make up the second rak‘ah. The scholars have said: In this way, the follower has one composite rak‘ah made up from two rak‘ahs of his imam, because he followed his imam in both the first and the second.

But if he realizes that he has fallen behind before the imam reaches the same position, he should make up what he missed and then follow his imam. For example:

A man is standing with the imam when the imam bows, but he does not hear the takbīr for bowing. Then, when the imam says, “Allah hears whoever praises Him,” he hears this pronouncement. We say to him: Bow, then rise, and follow your imam. You will have caught that rak‘ah, because this lagging behind was due to an excuse.

The second type is lagging behind without an excuse.

This may be either lagging behind within a pillar, or lagging behind by an entire pillar.

Lagging behind within a pillar means that you delay in following, but still catch up with the imam in the pillar to which he has moved. For example, the imam bows while you still have one or two verses remaining from the surah. You remain standing to complete what remains, but then bow and catch the imam while he is still in bowing. In this case, the rak‘ah is valid, but the action is contrary to the sunnah, because what is prescribed is that you begin bowing as soon as your imam reaches the bowing position, and that you do not lag behind, due to the Prophet’s ﷺ saying: “When he bows, then bow.” (1)