Reciting prescribed supplications in every limb is Sunnah
In the standing position, Surah Al-Fatiha and the previously mentioned Surahs or other Quranic verses can be recited in every prayer. Additionally, the following adhkar are prescribed:
◈ Say Takbeer every time you stand up and bow:
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Masood (RA) that:
رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يكبر فى كل رفع و خفض و قيام و قعود
“I saw the Prophet (PBUH) saying Takbeer every time he stood up, bowed, stood straight, and sat down.”
A similar narration is found in Sahihayn from Hazrat Imran bin Husain (RA).
◈ Adhkar for Ruku and Sajdah:
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Hudhaifah (RA) that I prayed with the Prophet (PBUH) and he used to say سبحان ربي العظيم in Ruku and سبحان ربي الاعلي in Sajdah.
The narration from Hazrat Ibn Masood (RA) mentioning saying سبحان ربي العظيم and سبحان ربي الأعلى three times in Ruku and Sajdah is weak.
(Shawkani) (Since this hadith is weak) therefore, without limiting the number, one should recite as many tasbihs as possible.
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to recite this supplication in his Ruku and Sajdah:
سبوح قدوس رَبُّ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوح
➌ This supplication is also established in Ruku and Sajdah:
اللهم لَكَ سَجَدَتْ وَبِكَ آمَنتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَأَنْتَ رَبِّي سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِى خَلَقَهُ وَصَوْرَهُ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَهُ وَشَقٌ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ
➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to recite this supplication very frequently in his Ruku and Sajdah:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللهُم رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرُلى
➎ It is narrated from Hazrat Awf bin Malik Ashja’i (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite this supplication in Ruku and Sajdah:
سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوتِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظْمَةِ“ –
➏ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite this supplication in Sajdah:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنَبِي كُلَّهُ دِقَهُ وَجِلَّهُ وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
➐ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that in the prostrations of the night prayer, the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite this supplication:
أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ لَا أَحْصِي ثنَاءٌ عَلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
➑ This supplication is also Sunnah during Ruku:
اللهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ اَنْتَ رَبِّي خَشَعَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِى وَدَمِيٌّ وَلَحْمِيٌّ وَعَظْمِي وَعَصْبِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
➒ It is narrated from Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir (RA) in a narration that when the verse فسبح باسم ربك العظيم
was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) told us to recite it in our Ruku, and when the verse سبح اسم ربك الأعلى
was revealed, he said to recite it in Sajdah.” This narration is weak.
◈ Adhkar when rising from Ruku:
The Imam, follower, and individual all say سمع الله لمن حمده when rising from Ruku and after standing straight say ربنا ولك الحمد.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) that when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stood for prayer, he said Takbeer, then when he bowed, he said Takbeer, then when rising from Ruku he said سمع الله لمن حمده, then standing straight he said ربنا ولك الحمد, then when going down for Sajdah he said Takbeer, then when raising his head he said Takbeer, then again going down for Sajdah he said Takbeer, then when raising his head he said Takbeer, and he continued this throughout the prayer, and when sitting after two Rak’ahs he said Takbeer.
We should also perform prayer in this manner as established from the Prophet (PBUH), as he instructed us thus. However, it is narrated from Hazrat Anas (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
إذا قال الإمام سمع الله لمن حمده فقولوا ربنا ولك الحمد When the Imam says سمع الله لمن حمده, you say ربنا ولك الحمد.
It is incorrect to deduce from this that the follower should not say سمع الله لمن حمده and the Imam should not say ربنا ولك الحمد, because authentic hadiths prove that the Prophet (PBUH) said both phrases and commanded prayer to be performed accordingly. However, it should be remembered that the purpose of this hadith is not to specify what the Imam and follower say at this moment, but only to indicate that the follower’s ربنا ولك الحمد should come after the Imam’s سمع الله لمن حمده.
This is the strongest and correct view, although scholars have differed on this.
(Shafi’i, Malik) Every worshipper says both سمع الله لمن حمده and ربنا ولك الحمد, whether Imam, follower, or individual. This is the position of Imam Ata, Imam Abu Dawood, Imam Abu Hurairah, Imam Ibn Sirin, Imam Ishaq, and Imam Dawood (may Allah have mercy on them all).
(Abu Hanifa) The Imam and individual say only سمع الله لمن حمده, and the follower says only ربنا ولك الحمد.
Imam Ibn Mundhir, after quoting this view from Hazrat Ibn Masood (RA), Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA), Imam Shu’bi, Imam Malik, and Imam Ahmad, said that this is also his position.
◈ It is also established from the Prophet (PBUH) to recite this supplication when rising from Ruku:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلَا الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلَا مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ أَهْلَ الثَّنَاءِ وَالْمَجْدِ ، لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنكَ الْجَدُّ
◈ ربنا لك الحمد and with the letter Waw ربنا ولك الحمد and اللهم ربنا و لك الحمد are all established from the Prophet (PBUH).
Additionally, these words are also established:
ربنا ولك الحمد حمدا كثيرا طيبا مبار كا فيه
As when a person said these words in prayer, the Prophet (PBUH) said about that person: “I saw more than thirty angels competing with each other to be the first to write down these words.”
◈ Adhkar between the two Sajdahs:
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Hudhaifah (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) used to say these words between the two Sajdahs:
رب اغفرلي ، رب اغفر لي
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite this supplication between the two Sajdahs:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجُبُرُنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
The supplications of Tashahhud have been detailed in the section on Tashahhud.
◈ It is prescribed to make abundant supplication for the good of this world and the Hereafter, whether Sunnah or not.
As narrated from Hazrat Ibn Masood (RA):
ثم ليتخيـر مـن الـدعـاء أعجبه إليه فيدعو
“(After Tashahhud) then recite whatever supplication you like.”
And in the narration of Sahih Muslim, the wording is:
ثم ليتـخـيـر مــن المسألة ما شا
“Then ask for whatever you wish.”
