By: Dr. Mubarak Ali

12. Rising from Ruku’

Upon rising from the position of bowing back to the standing posture, it is preferred to loudly proclaim the following three benedictions:

1) While rising, say:

Transliteration: Sami’ Allahu-liman hamidah.

(Abu Hurairah in Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, and Muslim)

Translation: Allah hears him who praise Him.

2) Upon standing straight, say:

Transliteration: Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd.

(Anas in Al-Bukahri)

Translation:  Our Lord, and to You is the praise.

3) Immediately after straightening the back, say:

Transliteration: Hamdan kathiran taiya ban mubaarakan fih

(Raf’ah ibn Rafa’ in Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Malik, and Abu Dawud)

Translation: Praise as much as it can be and as blessed as it can be.

13. When the Back is Completely Straightened

Let both hands loose on the sides. It is Sunnah to raise the hands to the shoulders again as this standing posture is completed and before pronouncing the third takbir and going into sajdah or prostration (Ibn ‘Umar in Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Al-Baihaqi).

14. Pronounce the Third Takbir and Move into Sajdah

Observe the proper posturing for prostration with forehead, tip of nose, palm of hands, knees and toes touching the ground. The kneesmust touch the ground before the hands as this is the authentic Sunnah. (Ibn al-Mundhir and other jurists; also Wa’il in As-Sayyid Sabiq, Fiqh us-Sunnah: Purification and Prayers).

15. While in Sajdah Say the Tasbih

While in prostration, one is required to glorify Allah three times or at least once[1] and may, in addition to that, make supplications[2] if one so desires. The prescribed glorification is as follows:

Transliteration: Subhaana Rabbiyal a’alaa.

(‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amr in Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Al-HHakim; also Hudaifah in Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawah, An-Nasa’I, Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi)

Translation: Glory to my Lord the Most High.

16. Pronounce the Fourth Takbirand Sit Briefly

After completing the tasbih, and as well a du’a, as the case may be, the fourth takbir is loudly pronounced and one moves into a brief sitting position.

17. While in Jalasa between the Sujjud, Say the Istighfar (Du’a of Forgiveness)

Assume the proper posture in this brief sitting position between the two prostration and recite the following du’a:

Transliteration: Allahumagh firli war hammi wa ‘aafini wahdini war zuqni.

(Ibn ‘Abbas in Abu Dawud)

Translation: Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me security, guide me, and provide for me.

18. Pronounce the Fifth Takbir and Resume the Sajdah

After the forgoing istighfar, loudly pronounce the takbir, resume the position of sajdah and repeat steps 14 and 15 above.

(Source: The Muslim Handbook by Dr. Mubarak Ali)

(To be continued)

[1]Like the tasbih for ruku’, one can say the tasbih for sujjud from one to a maximum of ten times(Anas in Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and An-Nasa’i).

[2]  The Messenger of Allah said that the closest one comes to his Lord is during prostration and advised that supplications should be made in this posture. He said: I have prohibited you from reciting (the Quran) while bowing or prostration. During the bowing, glorify the Lord. During the prostration, strive your hardest in making supplication. Most likely, you will be listened to  (Ahmad and Muslim)