Worship · 8th Grade · Lesson Eight

Ruku and Sujud

Awe and nearness: every word of the bow and the prostration, in English.

In Lessons 6 and 7, we learned every word we say before the bow, from Allahu Akbar to the end of Al-Ikhlas.

Today we bow and go down into sujud. We learn what we say there, what each line means, and why the lowest position in the prayer is the one where we are nearest to Allah (SWT).

Card drill · about 4 minutes · in pairs

Cards first

Swap decks with your partner. One reads the cue, the other says the Arabic and then the meaning. Then switch. After that, try these cards together as a class: say the words out loud, then tap to check the meaning.

Al-Fatihah 1:6

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim

Guide us to the straight path.

Lesson 7 · Al-Fatihah 1:6

Al-Fatihah 1:7

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ

Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim

The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor.

Lesson 7 · Al-Fatihah 1:7

After Al-Fatihah

آمِينَ

Amin

O Allah (SWT), answer our prayer.

Lesson 7

Al-Ikhlas 112:1

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Qul huwa Allahu ahad

Say, "He is Allah (SWT), [who is] One,"

Lesson 7 · Al-Ikhlas 112:1

Al-Ikhlas 112:3

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

Lam yalid wa lam yulad

He neither begets nor is born,

Lesson 7 · Al-Ikhlas 112:3

To begin the prayer

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu Akbar

Allah (SWT) is greater than everything.

Lesson 6

Private reflection · about 3 minutes

Last lesson's challenge

The last lesson ended with two parts: recite Al-Ikhlas in at least one prayer a day knowing what each line means, and say Amin after Al-Fatihah knowing what you are asking.

In the back of your notebook:

Which part did you manage, and on how many days? If you are not praying every prayer yet, reciting Al-Ikhlas once a day with its meaning counts too.
When you said Amin, what were you asking Allah (SWT) to answer?
Finish this sentence honestly: When I bow in ruku, I usually think about __________.

Today's map

From the bow to the second sujud

After the recitation, the prayer goes into the bow. Today we learn every word from the bow to the second sujud.

Ruku

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem

Rising

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami'Allahu liman hamidah

Standing

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa lakal-hamd

Sujud

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la

Sitting

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbighfir li

Sujud again

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la

Ruku · awe

We bow to Al-Adheem, the Most Great. You met this Name in Lesson 2, and you already have its card.

Sujud · nearness

We go down before Al-A'la, the Most High. This Name is new today. The lines in the boxes with a gold top are new too.

Every movement

Allahu Akbar at every move

Abu Hurairah (RA) describes how the Messenger of Allah (SWT) (pbuh) prayed:

Hadith · part of a longer hadith · [...] marks a narrator's note left out

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ صُلْبَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ [...] ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ، ثُمَّ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ كُلِّهَا حَتَّى يَقْضِيَهَا، وَيُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنَ الثِّنْتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْجُلُوسِ

"When the Messenger of Allah (SWT) (pbuh) stood for the prayer, he said takbir when he stood, then he said takbir when he bowed. Then he said 'Sami'Allahu liman hamidah' when he raised his back from ruku, and then, while standing, he said 'Rabbana lakal-hamd' [...]. Then he said takbir as he went down, then takbir when he raised his head, then takbir when he went into sujud, then takbir when he raised his head. He did this in the whole prayer until he finished it, and he said takbir when he stood up after sitting at the end of two rak'ahs."

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) · Sahih al-Bukhari 789 · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

Count it

Using this hadith, count how many times you say Allahu Akbar in a two-rak'ah prayer. Why would the prayer remind you that often that Allah (SWT) is greater than everything?

What each position is for

Magnify Him (SWT) in ruku, ask Him in sujud

Once, the Prophet (pbuh) drew back the curtain of his room and saw the people praying in rows behind Abu Bakr (RA). Part of what he said:

Hadith · part of a longer hadith

فَأَمَّا الرُّكُوعُ فَعَظِّمُوا فِيهِ الرَّبَّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَأَمَّا السُّجُودُ فَاجْتَهِدُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ، فَقَمِنٌ أَنْ يُسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ

"As for ruku, magnify the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, in it. And as for sujud, strive hard in dua, for it is fitting that you be answered."

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) · Sahih Muslim 479a · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

The word for "magnify," 'adhdhimu, comes from the same Arabic root as Al-Adheem, the Most Great.

Discussion

In this hadith, ruku is for magnifying His (SWT) greatness, and sujud is for striving in dua. Why might the praising come before the asking?

Ruku · the bow

Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem, word by word

Arabic	Say it	It means
سُبْحَانَ	Subhana	Glory be to
رَبِّيَ	Rabbiya	my Lord
الْعَظِيمِ	al-Adheem	the Most Great

In ruku we say

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

Subhana means declaring Him (SWT) perfect, far above every flaw and weakness. Notice the word "my": you are not describing a stranger. You are bowing to your Lord.

In your notebook

Start today's page: "Lesson 8 · Ruku and Sujud." Write "Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem" under The words and "Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great" under What they mean. You already have this card from Lesson 6's catch-up set.

Where the words come from

A ruku as long as the standing

One night, Hudhayfah (RA) prayed with the Prophet (pbuh). In one rak'ah the Prophet (pbuh) recited al-Baqarah, an-Nisa, and Al Imran, slowly. Hudhayfah (RA) describes what came next:

Hadith · part of a longer hadith

ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَكَانَ رُكُوعُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، ثُمَّ قَامَ طَوِيلًا قَرِيبًا مِمَّا رَكَعَ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَقَالَ: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى، فَكَانَ سُجُودُهُ قَرِيبًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ

"...Then he bowed and began saying, 'Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem,' and his bowing was about as long as his standing. Then he said, 'Sami'Allahu liman hamidah,' and stood for a long time, close to how long he had bowed. Then he went into sujud and said, 'Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la,' and his sujud was close to the length of his standing."

Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (RA) · Sahih Muslim 772 · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

Discussion

This was a long prayer at night, and the lesson for us is not the length. What does it tell you that the Prophet (pbuh) was in no hurry to leave ruku or sujud?

Rising from ruku

Two lines as you rise

Hadith · full hadith

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ. وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ يُكَبِّرُ، وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ قَالَ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Abu Hurairah (RA) said: "When the Prophet (pbuh) said, 'Sami'Allahu liman hamidah,' he would say, 'Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.' When the Prophet (pbuh) bowed and when he raised his head, he said takbir, and when he stood up after the two sajdahs, he said, 'Allahu Akbar.'"

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) · Sahih al-Bukhari 795 · [SAHIH] · full hadith

As you rise

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami'Allahu liman hamidah

Allah (SWT) hears the one who praises Him.

Standing up straight

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa lakal-hamd

Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.

Rising from ruku · word by word

Allah (SWT) hears, and you answer

Arabic	Say it	It means
سَمِعَ	Sami'a	hears
اللَّهُ	Allahu	Allah (SWT)
لِمَنْ	liman	the one who
حَمِدَهُ	hamidah	praises Him

Arabic	Say it	It means
رَبَّنَا	Rabbana	Our Lord
وَلَكَ	wa laka	and to You
الْحَمْدُ	al-hamd	belongs all praise

How scholars explain it · a summary, not a quote

Allah (SWT) hears everything. Here, scholars explain, "hears" means He (SWT) hears the praise, accepts it, and responds to it. So the prayer becomes a conversation again: you are told that He (SWT) hears, and you answer with praise.

Sahih al-Bukhari gives this praise in four wordings: Rabbana lakal-hamd, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd, Allahumma Rabbana lakal-hamd, and Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal-hamd. Your card uses Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.

In your notebook

Write "Sami'Allahu liman hamidah" and "Rabbana wa lakal-hamd," each with its meaning.

Rising from ruku

Saying it with the angels

Hadith · full hadith

إِذَا قَالَ الْإِمَامُ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، فَقُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ وَافَقَ قَوْلُهُ قَوْلَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

The Messenger of Allah (SWT) (pbuh) said: "When the imam says, 'Sami'Allahu liman hamidah,' say, 'Allahumma Rabbana lakal-hamd,' for whoever's words match the words of the angels will have his past sins forgiven."

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) · Sahih al-Bukhari 796 · [SAHIH] · full hadith

The schools of fiqh differ on who says which of the two lines when praying behind an imam, and when praying alone. Ask your imam what your school teaches.

Discussion

The angels are saying this praise too. How would remembering that change the few seconds after you rise from ruku?

Rising from ruku

Praise the angels raced to write

Hadith · full hadith

كُنَّا يَوْمًا نُصَلِّي وَرَاءَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ. قَالَ رَجُلٌ وَرَاءَهُ: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ. فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ: مَنِ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ؟ قَالَ: أَنَا. قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ بِضْعَةً وَثَلَاثِينَ مَلَكًا يَبْتَدِرُونَهَا، أَيُّهُمْ يَكْتُبُهَا أَوَّلُ

Rifa'ah ibn Rafi' (RA) said: "One day we were praying behind the Prophet (pbuh). When he raised his head from ruku, he said, 'Sami'Allahu liman hamidah.' A man behind him said, 'Rabbana wa lakal-hamd, hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih' (Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise, much praise, good and blessed). When the Prophet (pbuh) finished, he asked, 'Who was the one speaking?' The man said, 'I was.' He said, 'I saw thirty-some angels rushing to it, each wanting to be the first to write it down.'"

Narrated by Rifa'ah ibn Rafi' (RA) · Sahih al-Bukhari 799 · [SAHIH] · full hadith

Discussion

The man added his own words of praise in the middle of the prayer. What does the angels' race to write them tell you about the worth of praise that is truly meant?

Surah Al-A'la 87:1

Sujud · the prostration

A new Name: Al-A'la

الْأَعْلَى

Al-A'la

The Most High

Quran · Surah Al-A'la 87:1 · full ayah

سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى

"Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,"

Surah Al-A'la 87:1 · translation: Saheeh International · full ayah

In sujud we say

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la · Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

In your notebook

Write "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la" and its meaning. Then circle the one word that changed from ruku, and write what it means.

Sitting between the two sujud

Rabbighfir li: My Lord, forgive me

Hadith · full hadith

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Hudhayfah (RA) reported that the Prophet (pbuh) used to say between the two sajdahs: "Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me).

Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (RA) · Sunan Ibn Majah 897 · graded sahih by Darussalam and by al-Albani · [SAHIH] · full hadith

رَبِّ

Rabbi

My Lord

اغْفِرْ

ighfir

forgive

لِي

li

me

The same words appear in the longer report of Hudhayfah's (RA) night prayer in Sunan Abi Dawud 874 and Sunan an-Nasa'i 1145.

In your notebook

Write "Rabbighfir li" and "My Lord, forgive me." Then think: between two moments of being nearest to Him (SWT), why ask for forgiveness?

Sujud · nearness

The nearest you can be

Hadith · full hadith

أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ، فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ

The Messenger of Allah (SWT) (pbuh) said: "The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is in sujud, so increase in dua."

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) · Sahih Muslim 482 · [SAHIH] · full hadith

In Lesson 2 you met Al-Wadud, the Most Loving, and Al-Karim, the Generous. Sujud is where you are nearest to the One you are asking, and the Prophet (pbuh) told us to make much dua there.

Ask yourself

If you were nearer to Allah (SWT) than at any other moment of your day, what would you want to say to Him?

Write · private · about 3 minutes

What would you ask Him (SWT) for?

In the back of your notebook, write three duas in your own words:

One for yourself.
One for someone you love.
One for the ummah, or for the whole world.

Before you use these inside the prayer

The scholars differ on what wording and language may be used for personal dua inside the prayer, especially the fard prayers. Ask your imam what your school teaches.

Practice · about 8 minutes · in pairs

Move, say it, and know what it means

Partner A moves through the positions slowly and says each line in Arabic. Partner B says the English right after. Then switch. In round two, the one moving says both.

1

StandingSay "Allahu Akbar" and bow.

2

RukuSubhana Rabbiyal-AdheemGlory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

3

RisingSami'Allahu liman hamidahAllah (SWT) hears the one who praises Him.

4

StandingRabbana wa lakal-hamdOur Lord, and to You belongs all praise.

5

Allahu Akbar, sujudSubhana Rabbiyal-A'laGlory be to my Lord, the Most High.

6

Allahu Akbar, sitRabbighfir liMy Lord, forgive me.

7

Allahu Akbar, sujudSubhana Rabbiyal-A'laGlory be to my Lord, the Most High.

8

Allahu AkbarRise, and the rak'ah is complete.

Awe and nearness

The Most Great, the Most High, the Most Loving

الْعَظِيمُ

Al-Adheem

The Most Great

Ruku

We bow to His (SWT) greatness.

الْأَعْلَى

Al-A'la

The Most High

Sujud

At our lowest, we call Him (SWT) the Most High.

الْوَدُودُ

Al-Wadud

The Most Loving

Nearness

The lowest place is where we are nearest.

How scholars explain it · a summary, not a quote

Scholars point out how each Name fits its position. Bowing low, the servant declares his Lord the Most Great. In sujud, at his very lowest, face on the ground, he declares his Lord the Most High. Ibn al-Qayyim's image of the bird from Lesson 1 fits here too: love is the head, and fear and hope are the two wings. Ruku and sujud hold awe and love together.

In your notebook

At the bottom of today's page, under "In my own words," write one sentence: why might the lowest position in the prayer be the nearest one?

Groups of 3 to 5 · about 7 minutes · everyone answers at least one

Put today's lesson into your own words

In ruku we call Him (SWT) the Most Great, and in sujud the Most High. Why do you think each Name was placed in that position?
The man behind the Prophet (pbuh) added his own praise, and the angels raced to write it. What makes praise "meant" instead of just said?
A friend says, "I say these words so fast I don't even hear them." Using Hudhayfah's (RA) hadith and the hadith of nearness, what could you say to them?

Make your cards · about 5 minutes

Today's four cards

One index card for each. Front: where it is said, the Arabic if you can write it, and the transliteration. Back: the meaning and the source.

Rising from ruku

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami'Allahu liman hamidah

Allah (SWT) hears the one who praises Him.

Lesson 8 · Sahih al-Bukhari 789

Standing after ruku

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa lakal-hamd

Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.

Lesson 8 · Sahih al-Bukhari 799

In sujud

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Lesson 8 · Sahih Muslim 772

Between the two sujud

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbighfir li

My Lord, forgive me.

Lesson 8 · Sunan Ibn Majah 897

Before you leave · private · about 3 minutes

Write three private answers

One line: which line from today will you hear differently the next time you pray? Why that one?
One moment: when in your life right now would you most want the nearness of sujud?
One question: what do you want to ask your imam about ruku, sujud, or making dua in the prayer?

This week's challenge

One dua in sujud, every day

In sujud, after Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la, make one personal dua each day, following what your imam teaches about personal dua inside the fard prayers.

If you are not praying yet, make one personal dua each day at a quiet moment, and remember the hadith of nearness.

Study your cards one or two minutes a day, for example after a prayer.

Next card drill

The card drill at the start of the next lesson begins with today's four cards.

Next lesson

The Sitting: Tashahhud, Salawat, Taslim. Every word of the sitting at the end of the prayer, in English, through the salam that ends it.