Chapter Five: Bowing and Prostration

 

 

What did the Holy Prophet (s) recite while he bowed and prostrated?

The Imams from Ahl’ul bayt (as) are reported to have recited

سبحان ربی العظیم و بحمدہ

“Glory and praise be to my mighty Lord” three times while bowing and three times

سبحان ربی الا علیٰ و بحمدہ

“Glory and praise be to my most high Lord” while prostrating.

This can be evidenced from the following Shi’a sources:
1. Man la Yuhzirah al-Faqeeh, volume 1, page 167, published in Karachi.
2. Man la Yuhzirah al-Faqeeh, volume 1, page 167, published in Karachi.

In the footnote of Sahih Bukhari, Allamah Waheed uz-Zaman has reported three different traditions about the Holy Prophet (s) and then writes:

“It is reported from the blessed family of the Holy Prophet (s) that the Prophet (s) used to recite “Glory and praise be to my mighty Lord” while bowing and “Glory and praise be to my most high Lord” while prostrating.”
Tayseer al Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, page 523, published by Taj Co.Ltd Karachi.

We read in Sunan Abu Daud, Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Details of Commencing Prayer Book 3, Number 0869:

Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir:
The above (No 868) tradition has also been reported through a different chain of narrators by Uqbah ibn Amir to the same effect. This version adds: When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) bowed, he said: “Glory and praise be to my mighty Lord” three times, and when he prostrated himself, he said: “Glory and praise be to my most high Lord” three times.

Since prayer reflects one’s submissiveness and obedience to Allah (swt), the Shi’a recite

استغفر اللہ ربی و اتوب علیہ

between the two prostrations in order to seek forgiveness from their Lord. Shi’a works confirm that these words were recited by the Imams from Ahl’ul bayt (as), for evidence readers can consult:
1. Furo’ e Kafi, volume 2, page 91.

2. Man la Yuhdhirah al-Faqeeh, volume 1, page 167, published in Karachi.

Similar type of words in recitation can also be located in Sunni books. It is stated in Sunan Abu Daud that Holy Prophet used to recite the following phrase between the two prostrations.

اللھم مغفرلی وارحمنی و عافنی واھدنی وارزقنی

We read in Sunan Abu Daud, Book of Prayer(Kitab Al-Salat): Details of Commencing Prayer,Book 3, Number 0849:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to say between the two prostrations: “O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, heal me, and provide for me.”

Maulana Waheed uz-Zaman Hyderabadi writes in Tayseer al-Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari:

“Our Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal regarded the repeated recitation of

رب اغفرلی

as desirable between the prostrations.”
Tayseer al Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari,Volume 1, page 542, published in Karachi.

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