Al-Ṭabarī said, “This is an authentic ḥadīth. The jurists of the main centers have acted upon it, and a number of the Successors judged it permissible. It is likewise the view adopted by al-Bukhārī, for in his estimation the report to the contrary is not sound. Allah knows best.

They then disagreed over whether bowing and prostration require a fixed formulation to be pronounced by the worshipper. Mālik held that no specific wording is required. Al-Shāfiʿī, Abū Ḥanīfah, Aḥmad, and others maintained that in the bowing posture one should say three times, “Subḥāna rabbī al-ʿAẓīm” (“Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent”), and in prostration three times, “Subḥāna rabbī al-Aʿlā” (“Glory be to my Lord, the Most High”), following the ḥadīth of ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir. Al-Thawrī said, “I prefer that the imam say it five times so that the follower behind him manages at least three glorifications.”

The source of this disagreement is the apparent tension between the ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās on the issue and the ḥadīth of ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir. In the report of Ibn ʿAbbās the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“Behold, I have been forbidden to recite the Qur’an while bowing or prostrating. In bowing, therefore, glorify the Lord, and in prostration strive earnestly in supplication, for it is most likely that your supplication will be answered.”

In the ḥadīth of ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir it is related that he said:

“When the verse, ‘So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Magnificent’ (Q 56:96) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—told us, ‘Include it in your bowing.’ And when ‘Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High’ (Q 87:1) was revealed, he said, ‘Include it in your prostration.’”

They also differed about making supplication during bowing, though all agreed that praising Allah therein is permissible. Mālik disliked supplication in bowing, citing the ḥadīth of ʿAlī in which the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “In bowing, glorify the Lord; in prostration, apply yourselves to supplication.” Another group permitted supplication in bowing, relying on reports that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—did so; this is also the position of al-Bukhārī, who invoked the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah:

“The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—used to say in his bowing and prostration: ‘Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and with Your praise; O Allah, forgive me.’”