of his descent, raising his hands as he did for the opening declaration, and he says, “Subḥāna rabbī al-ʿaẓīm” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great) three times. The imam adds no more than this, whereas someone praying alone adds: “O Allah, to You I have bowed; in You I believe; to You I submit. Before You my hearing, my sight, my mind, my bones, my nerves, and whatever my feet can support have all humbled themselves.”
- Rising upright (iʿtidāl). One must stand calmly and intend this posture; if he rises in shock at some distraction, it is not sufficient. It is sunnah to raise the hands at the very start of lifting the head, saying, “Samiʿa llāhu liman ḥamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him). Once fully erect he says, “Rabbanā laka l-ḥamd—praise that fills the heavens, fills the earth, and fills whatever else You will besides.” A lone worshipper continues: “Lord of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant can say. We are all Your servants. None can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold, and the affluence of the affluent will not avail them against You.”
Qunūt is recommended during the iʿtidāl of the second rakʿah of Fajr, beginning, “Allāhumma ihdinī fīman hadayt…” and so on. The imam recites it in the plural. The sound view is that sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at its close is sunnah, that one raises his hands without wiping the face, that the imam recites it aloud, and that the congregation responds āmīn to the supplication while themselves reciting the words of praise; if they do not hear him, each one performs the qunūt individually. Qunūt is likewise prescribed in the rest of the obligatory prayers when calamity strikes, not habitually, according to the predominant opinion.
- Prostration (sujūd). The minimum is that part of the forehead touch the spot of prayer. If he prostrates on something attached to him, it is valid provided it does not move with his movement. According to the sounder view, placing the hands, knees, and feet is not obligatory.
I say: the stronger position is that it is obligatory, and Allah knows best.
He must be tranquil enough for the weight of his head to rest on the ground, and he must not be descending for another purpose; if he should fall forward he must return to the standing posture. On the more correct view, the lower part of his body should be higher than the upper. The optimal manner is to pronounce the takbīr as he descends, without raising the hands, place the knees first, then the hands, then the forehead and nose, and he says: “Subḥān—”