5 Sunnah Acts in Ruku‘
① Raising Hands When Going into Ruku‘
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما said:
"When the Prophet ﷺ said takbeer for ruku‘, he would raise his hands up to his shoulders."
(Bukhari: 735, Muslim: 390)
② Keeping the Back and Head Straight
Umm al-Mu’minin ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها said:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept his back straight in ruku‘; his head was neither raised nor lowered."
(Muslim: 498)
Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib رضي الله عنه said:
"When the Prophet ﷺ bowed, if water was poured on his back, it would settle (without flowing)."
(Silsilah al-Ahadith as-Sahihah: 898)
③ Placing Hands Firmly on Knees
Sayyiduna Abu Humaid al-Sa‘idi رضي الله عنه narrated:
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ bowed, he placed his palms firmly on his knees, spread his fingers, kept his arms straight, and held them away from his sides."
(Abu Dawood: 730, Tirmidhi: 260 — graded Sahih)
④ Keeping the Arms Away from the Sides
In ruku‘, the Prophet ﷺ would not let his elbows touch his body but kept them apart. This creates proper posture and shows humility.
⑤ Performing Ruku‘ with Calmness and Completeness
The Prophet ﷺ instructed that each movement in prayer, including ruku‘, should be performed with ṭuma’ninah (calmness and stillness), without haste.
6 Sunnah Du‘as in Ruku‘
① سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
"My Lord, the Most Great, is free from all imperfections." (Repeated three times)
(Muslim: 772, Ibn Majah: 888)
② سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ، اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي
"Glory and praise be to You, O Allah our Lord; O Allah, forgive me."
(Bukhari: 794, Muslim: 484)
③ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ، رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
"Perfect, Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit."
(Muslim: 487)
④ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوتِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ
"Glory be to the Possessor of Majesty, Sovereignty, Greatness, and Might."
(Abu Dawood: 873)
⑤ اللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ...
"O Allah, to You I have bowed, in You I have believed, to You I have submitted; my hearing, sight, mind, bones, and nerves have humbled themselves to You."
(Muslim: 771)
⑥ Du‘as combining praise and forgiveness in ruku‘, as reported from the Prophet ﷺ, are also Sunnah to recite, especially during long voluntary prayers.
