Regarding salah. Suppose the congregation prayer has started in the mosque. I became little late for the prayers. When the Imam goes for the Ruku and we joined the Jamat should we count that rakat as we have not recited surah Al-Fatihah


Praise be to Allaah.
 

Whoever catches up with the imam when he is bowing, and bows
with him, that is regarded as a rak’ah for him, according to the view of the
majority of scholars, even if he did not recite al-Faatihah. This is
indicated by the report narrated by al-Bukhaari (750) from Abu Bakrah, that
he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when
he was bowing and he bowed with him, before he reached the row. He mentioned
that to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and he
said: “May Allaah make you more keen but do not do it again.” 

It was narrated in a saheeh report that Ibn Mas’ood (may
Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever does not catch up with the imam
when he is bowing has not caught up with that rak’ah.” Narrated by
al-Bayhaqi; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel,
2/262. 

Ibn ‘Umar said: “Whoever catches up with the imam when he is
bowing and bows before the imam raises his head, has caught up with that
rak’ah.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, op.
cit., 2/263. 

Similar reports were narrated from Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, Zayd
ibn Thaabit and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Zubayr. See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel,
2/264. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Majmoo’, 4/112: What we have mentioned about catching up with the
rak’ah by catching up with rukoo’ (bowing) is the correct view, as stated by
al-Shaafa’i. It was also the view of the majority of our companions and the
majority of scholars. It is the apparent meaning of the ahaadeeth and all
people are unanimously agreed upon it. There is another view, which is very
weak, which suggests that it does not count. 

It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood (3/102): Note that the
majority of imams are of the view that whoever catches up with the imam when
he is bowing and joins him in the prayer is regarded as having caught up
with that rak’ah, even if he did not recite anything. A group was of the
view that whoever catches up with the imam when he is bowing has not caught
up with that rak’ah. This was the view of Abu Hurayrah. Al-Bukhaari narrated
this concerning reciting behind the imam from all of those who were of the
view that it is obligatory to recite behind the imam. This view was also
favoured by Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Sibghi and other Shaafa’i muhadditheen. Shaykh
Taqiy al-Deen al-Subki among the later scholars regarded this as a strong
view, and al-Muqbili regarded it as more likely to be correct. End quote. 

The view that is more likely to be correct is the view of the majority, because of the hadeeths and reports quoted above. 

And Allaah knows best.