141 / Remembrances for Bowing, Standing After It, Prostration, and Sitting Between the Two Prostrations

Various remembrances and supplications have been reported for these positions. What follows is a selection of the texts narrated on this subject, together with some explanation of their meanings and implications.

Muslim narrated in his Sahīh from Hudhayfah—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: “One night, I prayed with the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He began reciting al-Baqarah, and I thought that he would bow upon reaching one hundred verses, but he continued. I then thought that he would recite the whole surah in a single unit of prayer, but he continued. I then thought that he would bow upon completing it. He then began al-Nisā and recited it, followed by Āl Imrān, which he also recited. He recited at a measured pace: whenever he passed a verse containing glorification, he glorified Allah; whenever he passed a verse containing a request, he asked Allah; and whenever he passed a verse mentioning refuge, he sought refuge. He then bowed and began saying, ‘Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.’ His bowing lasted about as long as his standing. He then said, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ and stood for a long time, nearly as long as he had bowed. He then prostrated and said, ‘Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.’ His prostration lasted nearly as long as his standing.”1

This hadith establishes that it is prescribed for a Muslim to say while bowing, “Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great,” and while prostrating, “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.” Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “It was therefore prescribed for one who bows to remember the greatness of his Lord while he himself is lowered, humbled, and submissive, and to declare Him—Glorified is He—transcendent, through affirming His greatness, above everything contrary to His grandeur, majesty, and greatness. Thus, the very best words that one may say while bowing are: ‘Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.’ Allah—Glorified is He—commanded His servants to do so, and His messenger—the emissary between Him and His servants—designated this posture for this remembrance. When the verse was revealed, ‘So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great,’2 he said, ‘Make this part of your bowing.’…”3.