If the Imam bows before the worshiper has completed reciting Al-Fatihah due to stumbling, must the worshiper complete the part of Al-Fatihah corresponding to the stumbling before bowing, or should he bow immediately? And is the Basmalah obligatory in Al-Fatihah or merely recommended? And if the Imam bows while the worshiper is reciting a verse from Al-Fatihah, must the verse be completed, or should the worshiper bow immediately, even if the meaning is not complete?

If a latecomer (masbuq) arrives to find the Imam reciting and fears that the Imam will bow before he can complete al-Fatiha, then he should not recite the opening supplication (du'a al-istiftah) or seeking refuge (ta'awwudh). Instead, he should immediately begin reciting al-Fatiha. If the Imam bows while the latecomer is still in the middle of al-Fatiha, the relied-upon opinion among the Shafi'is is that he must complete al-Fatiha. If the worshipper (ma'mum) is negligent, for instance, by remaining silent for a long time or by reciting the opening supplication while knowing he cannot complete al-Fatiha, then he is obliged to complete al-Fatiha. If the worshipper deliberately fails to complete al-Fatiha, his prayer is invalidated. However, if he bows with the Imam and the recitation is dropped for him, that unit of prayer (rak'ah) is counted for him. If he recites the opening supplication and seeking refuge, then glorifies God (tasbih) or remains silent for a long time, he is deemed negligent and al-Fatiha is not waived for him. But if you stumble (in recitation) and are not negligent, then you should bow. According to the Shafi'is, the Basmala is part of al-Fatiha, so its recitation is obligatory.