THE BOWING (RUKOO')
(69) When he has finished reciting he remains silent for a moment,
long enough to return his breathing to normal.
(70) Then he raises his hands, in the manner described previously
with regard to the initial takbeer (point nos. 33, 34 and 35).
(71) He also says the takbeer (i.e., Allaahu Akbar), and this is
obligatory.
(72) Then he performs the rukoo' (i.e., bows) in such a manner that
all his joints are settled, and each part of the body is at rest. This is a
pillar (rukn).
HOW THE BOWING (RUKOO') IS PERFORMED
(73) He should place his hands firmly upon his knees. He should
spread his fingers, as if he were grasping his knees. All of this is
obligatory.
(74) He should stretch out his back and make it level, such that if
water were to be poured upon it, then it would settle upon it. This
is an obligation.
(75) He should neither cause his head to droop lower than his back,
nor should he raise it above it. Rather he should make it level with
his back.
(76) He should keep his elbows (straight and) apart from his sides.
(77) He should say in his rukoo':
Subhaana Rabbee al-'Azeem
(I declare my Lord, the Supreme, free and far removed from all
imperfections.)
Saying it three times, or more.
(78) From the Sunnah is that he makes the pillars of equal length.
So he should make his rukoo', his sujood (prostration), and his
sitting between the two prostrations of similar length.
(79) It is not allowed for him to recite the Qur'aan in the rukoo'
(bowing), nor in the sujood (prostration).
STRAIGHTENING UP FROM THE RUKOO'
(80) Then he must raise up and straighten his back from the rukoo'.
This is a pillar.
(81) He must say, while raising his back:
Sami' Allaahu liman hamidah
(Allaah listens and responds to the one who praises Him.)
This is an obligation.
(82) He should raise his hands when he rises up, in the manner that
has preceded (point nos. 33, 34 and 35). (refers to Takbeer
(83) Then he should stand straight up and remain still, such that
every bone returns to its place. This is a pillar.
(84) He should say while standing:
Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd
(O our Lord! And all praise is for You.)
This is obligatory upon everyone praying, even if he is praying
behind an imaam, since it is the saying prescribed for this
standing position. As for the saying, then it is the saying prescribed
to be said whilst rising.
(85) He should make this standing about as long as the rukoo'
(bowing), as has preceded.
THE SUJOOD (PROSTRATION)
(86) Then he says:
Allaahu Akbar
(Allaah is Greater.)
and this is an obligation.
(87) And he should raise his hands, sometimes.
PLACING THE HANDS FIRST WHEN PROSTRATING
(88) Then he prostrates, placing his hands upon the ground before
his knees. This is what Allaah's Messenger commanded, and it is
what is established from his practice. He also forbade the people
from kneeling down in the manner that the camel kneels, and the
camel places its knees -which are its fore-legs - first.
(89) So when he prostrates, and it is a pillar, he should rest upon his
palms, and extend together.
(90) He should keep his fingers them.
(91) And point them towards the qiblah (direction of Prayer).
(92) And he should place his palms level with his shoulders.
(93) And sometimes he places them level with his ears.
(94) And he must lift his elbows away from the ground. This is
obligatory. He is not allowed to spread them on the ground in the
manner of the dog.
(95) He must place his nose and his forehead firmly upon the
ground, this is a pillar.
(96) He must also place his knees firmly on the ground.
(97) And likewise his toes.
(98) His feet should be placed upright on the ground. All of these
are obligatory.
(99) The tips of his toes should be pointed towards the qiblah
(direction of Prayer).
(100) And his heels should be joined together.
BEING SETTLED IN THE PROSTRATION (Sujood)
(101) It is obligatory that he is settled in his prostration. This comes
about by his resting equally on each of the parts of the body that
touch the ground when prostrating. These are: the forehead and the
nose - together, the two palms, the two knees and the toes of each
foot.
(102) So whoever settles in his prostration in this manner, then he
has certainly attained the stillness necessary. This stillness
(itmi'naan) in the prostration is a pillar also.
(103) He should say in it:
Subhaana Rabbee al-A' laa
(I declare my Lord, the Most High, free and far removed from all
imperfections. )
three times or more.
(104) It is recommended to supplicate to Allaah as much as possible
while in prostration, since it is a time most suitable for the
acceptance of supplications.
(105) He should make his prostration about as long as his bowing,
as has preceded.
(106) It is allowed to prostrate upon the earth, or upon something
placed upon the ground such as a garment, a carpet, a mat and the
like.
(107) It is not allowed to recite the Qur'aan in prostration.
