Ruku‘ (Kneeling) and Readings therein and When Standing up Straight Thereafter

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘When you want to kneel for Ruku‘ say, ‘Allah is great’ before it, then assume Ruku‘ position and say, ‘O Lord, I have knelt down for You, I am submitted to You, I believe in You, and I plead before You to be my attorney. You are my Lord. My heart, my ears, my eyes, my hairs, my skin, my flesh, my blood, my bone marrow, my bones, my nerves and all that my legs support of me are humble before You without reservations, arrogance or tiredness.’ Say three times, ‘My Lord, the great, is free of all defects and I praise Him,’ with clarity and fluency. In Ruku‘ position you should level up your feet with a distance of one shibr (eight inches) between them, place your palms over your knees, first your right palm on the right knee, and then the left palm over your left knee. Open your fingers and make them to hold the sides of your knees, keep your back straight, stretch your neck forward and keep your eyes to look between your feet. Then, while standing straight, say, ‘Allah hears all who praise Him. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the owner of might and majesty. Greatness belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ raise your voice when saying this, then raise your hands for saying ‘Allah is great’ and then bow down for sajdah.”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about what one says when performing behind an Imam when he says, ‘Allah hears all those who praise him.’ He (the Imam) said that he must say, ‘All praise belong to Allah, Cherisher of the worlds’ and lowers his voice.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When you decide to assume Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and Sajdah (prostration) position, raise your hands, say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), then assume Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and Sajdah (prostration) position.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘One who does not straighten his back during Salah (prayer), his Salah (prayer) is not valid.’”

“I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), perform Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and make it lower than all of those whom I have seen performing Ruku‘. He spread, in the position of Ruku‘ his arms like wings.’”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you stand up straight after Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees), make your back (bones) stand straight (vertically), otherwise, one’s Salah (prayer) is not considered Salah (prayer).”’

“I once was in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in his home in al-Madinah. He initiating a conversation saying, ‘One who completes his Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) does not face any dread in the grave.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is it sufficient for me to say Tahlil, (no one deserves worship except Allah) and Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) in Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) instead of Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects). He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is sufficient.’”

“Once abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saw me, in al-Madinah when I performed Salah (prayer). I bent down my head and stretched in my Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees). He (the Imam) sent me a message that said, ‘You must not do so (when you are in Ruku‘).’” (Ahadith 2-9 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)