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Sunan of Rukoo‘ (Bowing)
Number 1 of Sunan of Rukoo‘ (bowing)
1. Placing the palms of the hands on the knees and spreading the fingers out.
Abu Humayd Is-Sā‘idiy (ABPWH) narrated,
“I am the most knowledgeable of you about the prayer of the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH). I saw him raise his hands adjacent to his shoulders while saying “Allāhu Akbar” to begin his prayer, and when he bowed, he firmly placed the palms of his hands on his knees … ,” to the end of the Hadeeth.
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 828)
Furthermore,
Abu Mas‘ood (ABPWH) reported,
“… and he spread his fingers out around his knees ...”
(Ahmad no. 17081, Abū Dāwood no. 863 and An-Nasā’iy no. 1038)
Number 2 of Sunan of Rukoo‘ (bowing)
2. Keeping the back straight while bowing.
This is indicated by
the Hadeeth of Abi Humayd (ABPWH) in which he reported,
“… and when he bowed down he would firmly place his palms on his knees and bend down keeping his back straight during bowing ...”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 828)
Namely, he would bow down with his back straight and avoid his back taking the shape of an arch, and his head would be on the same level with his back, neither higher or lower,
as ‘Ā’ishah, may Allāh be pleased with her, narrated in the following Hadeeth reported by Muslim:
“When the Prophet (PBUH) made Rukoo‘, he would neither raise his head nor lower it, but he would keep it in a position between both.”
(Muslim no. 498)
Number 3 of Sunan of Rukoo‘ (bowing)
3. Spreading the elbows away from the body while bowing.
What proves this is
the Hadeeth of Abi Mas’ood (ABPWH) who narrated,
“Then he bowed down, spread his elbows away from his body, placed his palms on his knees, spread his fingers out.” He said, “I saw the Prophet praying like this.”.
(Ahmad no. 17081, Abū Dāwood no. 863 and An-Nasā’iy no. 1038)
However, this is on condition that the worshiper should not harm those who stand beside him/her.
An-Nawawiy, may Allāh have mercy on him, said, “The scholars agreed that spreading the elbows away from the body while bowing is recommended, and I did not see anyone who opposed this opinion. Al-Imām At-Tirmidthiy also reported that it is recommended in both bowing and prostration, and that this is the opinion of the scholars in general.” (Al-Majmoo‘, 3/410)
Number 4 of Sunan of Rukoo‘ (bowing)
4. Performing the specific supplications of Sunnah in Rukoo‘.
After saying
{ سبحان ربي العظيم }
“Glory be to my Lord the Almighty”
, some other supplications can be said, and these include:
« سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي »
“O Allāh, Glory and Praise be to you. O Allāh, forgive me.” This supplication was narrated in the Hadeeth of ‘Ā’ishah, may Allāh be pleased with her.
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 794, Muslim no.484)
« سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ »
All-Glorious, All-Holy, Lord of the angels and spirit.” This supplication was also narrated in the Hadeeth of ‘Ā’ishah, may Allāh be pleased with her.
(Muslim no. 487)
« اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي، وَبَصَرِي، وَمُخِّي، وَعَظْمِي، وَعَصَبِي »
This supplication was narrated in the Hadeeth of ‘Aliy (ABPWH).
“O Allāh, it is for You that I bowed. I affirm my faith in You and I submit to You. My hearing, my eyesight, my marrow, my bone, and my sinew are all humbled to you.”
(Muslim no. 771)
« سبحانَ ذِي الجَبَرُوتِ وَالمَلَكوتِ وَالكِبْرِياءِ وَالعَظَمَةِ »
“Glory be to the One who has all Power, all of the Kingdom, all Pride, and all Greatness.”
(Ahmad no. 23411, Abū Dāwood no. 873 and An-Nasā’iy no. 1050
