Ruku and Sujood Prayers

Written by: Hafiz Abu Yahya Noor Puri

Supplications and Adhkaar

Narrated by Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him), he said:"When the verse

فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيْمِ

(Surah Al-Waqi'ah: 74) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Recite it in your Ruku (bowing).' And when the verse

سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْاَعْلٰى

(Surah Al-A'la: 1) was revealed, he said: 'Recite it in your Sujood (prostration).'"

[Sunan Abi Dawood: 869, Sunan Ibn Majah: 887, Al-Mustadrak of Al-Hakim: 1/225, and its chain is Sahih]

Imam Ibn Khuzaymah [601], and Imam Ibn Hibban [1898] have declared this hadith as "Sahih," and Imam Hakim has said it is "Sahih al-Isnad." Besides Imam Ibn Ma'in, the majority have regarded Musa bin Ayub al-Ghafiqi as "trustworthy."Another narrator of this hadith, Iyas bin Aamir, has been declared "trustworthy" by Imam Ajli, Imam Yaqoub bin Sufyan, Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, Imam Ibn Hibban, and Imam Hakim. Thus, Hafiz Dhahabi's criticism is rejected. Hafiz Nawawi (Khulasat al-Ahkam: 1/396) has termed its chain as "Hasan."It is established that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered the recitation of prayers in Ruku and Sujood with utmost humility and submissiveness, with presence of heart and certainty. This hadith is further clarified by the following narrations:

Sayyiduna Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) one night (mentioning the hadith):"Then he (the Prophet ﷺ) bowed and kept saying:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ

(Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great). His bowing was about the same length as his standing."

[Sahih Muslim: 772]

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered his tribe and demonstrated prayer, declaring it as the Prophet's (ﷺ) prayer:"Then he said Allahu Akbar, bowed, and said three times:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

(Glory is to Allah and praise is to Him)."

[Musnad Ahmad: 5/343, and its chain is Hasan]

The narrator, Shahr bin Hawshab, is considered "trustworthy" by the majority.

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) frequently recited in his Ruku and Sujood:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ، اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ.​

"O Allah, You are free from imperfection, our Lord, and all praise is due to You. O Allah, forgive me."

[Sahih Bukhari: 794, Sahih Muslim: 484]

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite in his Ruku and Sujood:

سُبُّوْحٌ، قُدُّوْسٌ، رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْرُّوْحِ.​

"Most Pure, Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit."

[Sahih Muslim: 487]

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that one night she lost track of the Prophet (ﷺ), thinking he might be with one of his wives. She found him in Ruku or Sujood, reciting:

سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.​

"You are free from imperfection, and praise is due to You. There is none worthy of worship except You."

[Sahih Muslim: 485]

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited in his Ruku:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، أَنْتَ رَبِّي، خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَمُخِّي وَعَظْمِي وَعَصَبِي وَمَا اسْتَقَلَّتْ بِهِ قَدَمِي لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ.​

"O Allah, I have bowed to You alone, I have believed in You, I have submitted to You, You are my Lord. My hearing, my sight, my brain, my bones, my nerves, and whatever my feet carry are all humbled before Allah, the Lord of the Worlds."

[Sahih Muslim: 771, Musnad Ahmad: 1/119]

Sayyiduna Awf bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that one night he stood with the Prophet (ﷺ) in prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Surah Al-Baqarah. When he passed a verse of mercy, he paused and asked for mercy. When he passed a verse of punishment, he paused and sought refuge. His bowing and prostration were as long as his standing, reciting:

سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوْتِ وَالْمَلَكُوْتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ.​

"Glory to the One of might, dominion, grandeur, and majesty.

"[Sunan Abi Dawood: 873, Sunan An-Nasa'i: 1050, and its chain is Sahih]​

Hafiz Nawawi declared its chain as "Sahih."

[Khulasat al-Ahkam: 1/396]

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with them) said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite in his Ruku:اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ
، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، أَنْتَ رَبِّي، خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَدَمِي وَلَحْمِي وَعَظْمِي وَعَصَبِي لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ
.

"O Allah, I have bowed to You alone, I have believed in You, I have submitted to You, and I trust in You. You are my Lord. My hearing, my sight, my blood, my flesh, my bones, and my nerves are all humbled before Allah, the Lord of the Worlds."

[Sunan An-Nasa'i: 1052, and its chain is Sahih]

Benefit No. 1:

Reciting the Quran in Ruku and Sujood is prohibited. As narrated by Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:"Beware, I have been forbidden to recite the Quran in Ruku or Sujood."

[Sahih Muslim: 497]

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me from reciting the Quran in Ruku and Sujood."

[Sahih Muslim: 480]

Benefit No. 2:

Recite the Tasbeeh at least three times. Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered his tribe and demonstrated prayer, declaring it as the Prophet's (ﷺ) prayer:"Then he said Allahu Akbar, bowed, and said three times:

سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

(Glory is to Allah and praise is to Him)."

[Musnad Ahmad: 5/343, and its chain is Hasan]

Ja'far bin Burqan said:"I asked Maimun about the duration of Ruku and Sujood. He said: 'I do not consider less than three Tasbeehat to be sufficient.' Ja'far said: 'I asked Imam Zuhri, and he said: 'When the bones are settled and in their place.' I said: 'Maimun says three Tasbeehat.' He replied: 'That is what I say.'"

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/250, Hadith: 2583, and its chain is Sahih]

Imam Hasan al-Basri said:"The complete Sujood is the length of seven Tasbeehat, three are also permissible."

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/250, and its chain is Sahih]

Imam Shafi'i also held the view of reciting the supplication three times at least. [Al-Umm: 1/111]Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal also held this opinion.

[Masa'il Ahmad by his son Abdullah: 74]

It is established that in Ruku and Sujood, the supplication should be recited at least three times. There is no maximum limit. Recite any of these supplications with utmost humility, submissiveness, presence of heart, and certainty, and gain the benefits of this world and the Hereafter. These blessed supplications should be memorized and taught to children with their meanings.
 
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