Question # 371: Assalaamualaikum warahmatullahi wabaraktuhu. Prophet (sallallaahlayhiwasallam) had prohibited us from reciting the verses of Qur’aan in rukoo and sujood. I heard a speaker say that Prophet recited Rabbana aathina fiddunya…quranic dua frequently in sujood. Is this claim authentic?

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: The Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) forbade reciting Qur’an when bowing and prostrating. However, if a person recites a du’aa’ that is mentioned in the Qur’an when prostrating (in sujood), such as the words in the Qur’an: “Rabbanā ‘Ātinā Fī Ad-Dunyā…” with the intention of making du’aa and not reciting Qur’an, then there is nothing wrong with that. Finally, bowing down position, or Ruku’, is not the right position for supplication, rather it is for praising Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and glorifying Him, while prostration, or Sujood is the right position for making Dua’a.

Long Answer:

The Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) forbade reciting Qur’an when bowing and prostrating.

Muslim narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “I have been forbidden to recite the Qur’an when bowing or prostrating. As for bowing, glorify your Lord therein, and as for prostrating, strive in du’aa’, for it is deserving of a response (from your Lord).”

Muslim narrated that ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) forbade me to recite Qur’an when bowing and prostrating.

The scholars are agreed that it is makrooh to recite Qur’an when bowing or prostrating. (al-Majmoo’; al-Mughni)

The wisdom behind that is: “It was said that the best pillar of prayer is standing and the best of dhikr is reciting Qur’an, so the best has been put with the best, and it is not allowed to put it with anything else, lest anyone think that it is equal to other kinds of dhikr. ‘Awn al-Ma’bood.

It was said that it is because the Qur’an is the noblest of speech, because it is the Word of Allah, and the position of bowing and prostration is one of humility and submission on the part of the worshipper, so it is more appropriate not to recite the Word of Allah in these two positions. (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa)

[Next,] if a person recites a du’aa’ that is mentioned in the Qur’an when prostrating, such as the words in the Qur’an: “Rabbanā ‘Ātinā Fī Ad-Dunyā Ĥasanatan Wa Fī Al-‘Ākhirati Ĥasanatan Wa Qinā `Adhāba An-Nāri” (Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire) (Soorah al-Baqarah 2:201), there is nothing wrong with that, if the intention is to say du’aa’ and not to recite Qur’an, because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Actions are but by intentions, and each person will have but that which he intended.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Al-Zarkashi said: “It is makrooh when it is intended as recitation of Qur’an, but if it is intended as du’aa’ and praise, then it is like someone who did Qunoot by reciting a verse. Doing Qunoot by reciting a verse from the Qur’an is permissible and is not makrooh. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj)

Al-Nawawi said in al-Adhkaar: “If a person does Qunoot by reciting a verse which includes a du’aa’, then he has done Qunoot, but it is better to say the du’aa’ as narrated in the Sunnah.”

This applies if he intends to say du’aa’ when he recites the verse. (al-Futoohaat al-Rabbaaniyyah Sharh al-Adhkaar al-Nawawiyyah by Ibn ‘Allaan)

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked: We know that it is not permissible to recite Qur’an when prostrating, but there are some verses which include du’aa’s, such as the words, “Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us” (Soorah Aal ‘Imran, 3:8). What is the ruling on saying such du’aa’s that are mentioned in the Qur’an, when prostrating? They replied: “There is nothing wrong with that if it is done as a du’aa’ and not as recitation of Qur’an.” (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)

(The above reply is based on the answer provided by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid)

According to Dr. Main Khalid Al-Qudah, Member of the Fatwa Committee of Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America “Bowing down position, or Ruku’, is not the right position for supplication, rather it is for praising Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and glorifying Him, while prostration, or Sujood is the right position for making Dua’a. Making Dua’a could be done by reciting the Prophetic supplications, the Quranic ones with the intention of making Dua’a and not reciting Quran, or otherwise, you can come up with your own Dua’a as long as it does not contradict the Islamic principles.”

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam