But as for reciting the Quran, that is forbidden: he may not recite it while bowing nor while prostrating. Bowing is for exaltation—he magnifies his Lord, saying, “Subḥāna rabbī al-ʿaẓīm” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Magnificent), “Subḥāna al-malik al-quddūs” (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy), and the like. In prostration he says, “Subḥāna rabbī al-aʿlā” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High), “Subḥānaka Allāhumma rabbānā wa biḥamdik, Allāhumma ighfir lī” (Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord; to You belongs all praise. O Allah, forgive me). He then supplicates and increases his supplication, for it is likely that he will be answered—indeed, he is worthy of being answered. May Allah grant us and you success in what He loves and is pleased with.

1428 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The servant is never nearer to his Lord than when he is prostrating, so make abundant supplication.” Related by Muslim.

1429 – He also reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say in his prostration, “O Allah, forgive me all my sin—the small and the great, the first and the last, the public and the private.” Related by Muslim.

[Explanation]
These two hadiths set out specific supplications and remembrances that the author (may Allah have mercy on him) cites in the chapter on the virtue of supplication. One of them is the hadith of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet ﷺ said, “The servant is never nearer to his Lord than when he is prostrating.” The reason is that when a person prostrates he places the noblest of his limbs on the very spot where the feet tread, and he likewise brings the highest part of his body level with the lowest part of it—his face, the loftiest feature, comes alongside his feet, the lowliest part,