Dua in Ruku
3 Supplications for Bowing in Prayer
After reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and a passage of the Quran, the worshipper bows down in ruku, lowering the back and placing the hands on the knees in humility before Allah. In this position, the worshipper recites the dua in ruku, glorifying Allah as the Most Great with the words Subhana rabbiyal-azim. The bowing is a posture of reverence, declaring the greatness of Allah while the body bends low in submission to Him.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught several beautiful supplications to recite in the ruku, the central one being the glorification of Allah, recited at least once and recommended three times. This guide explains the dua in ruku and three supplications for bowing, so that the worshipper may fill their bowing with the glorification of Allah and the beautiful remembrances the Prophet (pbuh) recited in this humble position of the prayer.
The Glorification in Bowing
The prescribed dua in ruku is Subhana rabbiyal-azim, glory be to my Lord, the Most Great, recited at least once and recommended three times or more. As the worshipper bows down, lowering themselves physically, they declare the greatness and exaltedness of Allah. This pairing is beautiful: the body bends low in humility while the tongue proclaims the supreme greatness of the Lord, capturing the spirit of worship in a single position. The greater the One being glorified, the more fitting the humility of the one who glorifies, and so the worshipper bows as low as the back will bend while the heart proclaims the very highest praise.
The bowing should be performed with calm and stillness, the back straight and level, and the glorification recited with presence of heart. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasised tranquillity in the ruku, teaching that the worshipper should settle in the position before rising. Reciting the glorification three times allows the worshipper to feel the meaning of the words and to honour the greatness of Allah without rushing through this humble posture. The Prophet (pbuh) made the bowing roughly equal in length to the standing and the prostration, giving each position its due rather than hurrying through the prayer.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim
Glory be to my Lord the Most Great
Three Supplications for Bowing in Prayer
The Prophet (pbuh) recited beautiful supplications in the ruku beyond the prescribed glorification. These three are among the supplications for bowing.
- Recite Subhana rabbiyal-azim, the prescribed glorification, at least once and recommended three times.
- Add Subbuhun quddusun rabbul-malaikati war-ruh, perfect and holy, Lord of the angels and the spirit.
- Say Subhanaka Allahumma rabbana wa bihamdik, Allahummaghfir li, seeking the forgiveness of Allah.
سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
Subbuhun quddusun Rabbul-mala’ikati war-ruh
Perfect and holy Lord of the angels and the spirit
Honouring Allah in the Bowing
The dua in ruku fills the bowing with the glorification of the greatness of Allah, the perfect harmony of a body bent low and a tongue proclaiming His supremacy. By reciting Subhana rabbiyal-azim with calm and presence, and adding the beautiful supplications the Prophet (pbuh) recited, the worshipper honours Allah in this humble posture of the prayer. Performed with stillness and a present heart, the ruku becomes a moment of sincere reverence before the Most Great. Far from an empty movement, the bowing is a declaration in body and tongue together that Allah alone is supreme, and that the worshipper bends willingly before His greatness.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua after rising from ruku that follows it, and the dua in sujood. Together they help the worshipper fill each position of the prayer with the glorification and remembrance of Allah.
In the bowing of the prayer, the worshipper bends low while proclaiming the greatness of Allah. Learn the duas of salah with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on X for a reminder to glorify Allah in the ruku, and on Pinterest where readers share how they perfect their prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua in ruku is Subhana rabbiyal-azim, glory be to my Lord, the Most Great, recited at least once and recommended three times while bowing. The Prophet (pbuh) also recited other supplications in the ruku.
It is recited at least once, and recommended three times or more, with calm and presence of heart. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasised tranquillity and settling in the bowing.
It means glory be to my Lord, the Most Great, declaring the greatness and exaltedness of Allah. The worshipper proclaims His supremacy while bowing low in humility.
Besides the prescribed glorification, the Prophet (pbuh) recited Subbuhun quddusun, perfect and holy, Lord of the angels and the spirit, and supplications seeking the forgiveness of Allah. These enrich the bowing.
The back should be straight and level, the hands on the knees, with calm and stillness. The Prophet (pbuh) taught the worshipper to settle in the ruku before rising, reciting the glorification with presence.
The glorification in ruku is an emphasised Sunnah that the Prophet (pbuh) consistently recited. The worshipper should recite it in every bowing, settling calmly before rising from the position.