What is the criterion for the length of the ruku and sajdah in prayers? How many times can invocations be recited at ruku (bowing down in prayer) and sajdah (prostration) at most?
Submitted by on Sun, 03/05/2015 - 23:40
Dear Brother / Sister,
In nafilah (supererogatory) prayers, you can recite invocations as many times as you want during ruku and sajdah. However in fard (obligatory) prayers, it is necessary to recite according to the rules of the Sunnah.
"Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la" (Glory to my Lord, the Most High) is recited only three times. This is the minimum number of invocation which is performed in ruku and sajdah. It is mustahab (recommended) to increase the number of invocations to five or seven as long as the number remains odd. However, the imam should not do this more than three times. (al-Hidaya - al Muhit / Sarakhsi)
The Islamic canonist experts say that the minimum number of invocations is three, the average of it is five and the perfect of it is seven. (Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarla İslam Fıkhı)
It is unanimously sunnah to say "Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la" in sajdah (prostration) at least one time and normally three times. The proof of this is the hadith narration of Ibn Mas'ud:
"...When the Prophet went to sajdah, he said "Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la" three times."
The following is stated in the hadith narration of Abu Huzayfa (R.A):
"Huzayfa heard the prophet (PBUH) in sajdah saying ""Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la three times" (Ibn Majah and Abu Dawud also narrated this hadith but did not say "three times".)
The sect of Hanafi school said, the Imam should not recite invocations in sajdah more than three times in order to give relief the congregation. According to the school of Malikis, there is no limit in invocations. (Wahba Zuhayli İslam Fıkhı Ency.)
Questions on Islam
- Is it permissible to recite the invocations of ruku and sajdah one time which we normally recite three times?
- Does sajda as-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) become necessary if we change the places of the invocations that we recite in ruku and sajdah?
- What is the place of ruku (bowing down in prayer) in salah? What meaning does it have and are there any verses or hadiths about it?
- Is it permissible to say “Subhana Rabbiyal a’la” (Glory to my Lord, the Most High) more than three times in sajdah (prostration) while praying?
- What are the meanings of the deeds done in prayer, supplications (dua) and glorifications (tasbihat) in and outside prayer? Is it permissible to say / read them more or fewer times?
- What is the length of sajdah (prostration) in prayer? They say it is necessary to remain in prostration long enough to say, "Lailahaillallah"; I sometimes think I do not remain long enough.
- Are the duas (supplications) said in ruku’ (bowing down) and sajdah (prostration) of prayer fard?
- Is it possible to say prayers (duas) in a different language during prostration (sajdah)?
- How is Prayer (salah) performed? Will you please explain orderly with photographs?
- How is the prostration of Quran recitation (sajdah at-tilawah) performed when a verse of prostration (sajdah) is read? Is it permissible to delay this prostration?
