The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.932- The body should be still while reciting the obligatory dhikr, and if the recommended dhikr is being recited with the intention of dhikr of rukū‘, the body should be still as well.

Issue No.936- If a person cannot bow down for rukū‘ properly, if possible, he should lean on something and perform rukū‘. And if it is not possible, he should bow down as much as he can. And if he cannot bow at all, he should perform rukū‘ in the sitting posture. And if he cannot do this either, he should stand and indicate with his head for rukū‘. And if this cannot be done either, he should close his eyes with the intention of performing rukū‘ and utter the dhikr and then open his eyes with the intention of rising from rukū‘.

Issue No.937- If a person can perform rukū‘, but owing to a disease or other excuse he is not able to remain in rukū‘ to the extent of the obligatory dhikr, he should utter the obligatory dhikr before he exits the state of rukū‘, even though his body may not be still. And if that is not possible, he should finish the dhikr while rising from rukū‘.

Issue No.939- rukū‘ is one of the foundational elements (rukn) of prayer which, if abandoned or performed intentionally or unintentionally twice or more, will make the prayer void.

Issue No.941- If a person forgets to perform rukū‘, and before he performs the first sajdah or between the two sajdahs or before his forehead reaches the earth for the second sajdah, he recollects it, he should stand up and then go into rukū‘.

Issue No.942- It is mustaḥab that before going into rukū‘ while one is standing straight, to say “اللهُ اَکْبَرُ”. In rukū‘, one's knees should be straightened, the back should be kept straight, the head should be upright, should be kept equally in line with the back and notice the space between the feet. After he rises from rukū‘ and stands straight, while the body is standing still, he should utter “سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ”

Issue No.944- A person offering prayers should perform two Sajdahs after the Ruku', in each Rak’at of the obligatory as well as Mustahab prayers. They are performed after the Ruku’, and if a person, intentionally or forgetfully, omits or adds two more Sajdahs, his prayers are void. But, if he adds or omits one Sajdah forgetfully, his prayers do not become void.

Issue No.945- While performing the sajdah, it is obligatory to place these seven limbs on the ground: the forehead, the palms of hands, the knees, and the tips of both the two big toes of the feet. And if one, intentionally, does not place one of these limbs on the earth, his sajdah is void, and in case he does not place his forehead even forgetfully on the earth, his sajdah would be void. However, if he places his forehead on the earth but inadvertently does not place some other limbs on the ground, the sajdah is correct.

Issue No.947- In sajdah, one's body should be still while uttering obligatory dhikr. Similarly, the body should be still while uttering recommended Dhikrs provided that one utters them with the intention of the prescribed dhikr of sajdah. If, however, he utters them with the intention of general dhikr that can be uttered everywhere in prayer one can recite them even in motion.

Issue No.948- If one starts the dhikr of sajdah, before the body is still, or utters a part of it when he is raising his head from sajdah, his prayer is void. However, if it occurs inadvertently there is no problem in it. But if he realizes his mistake before he raises his head from sajdah he should utter the dhikr again when his body is still.

Issue No.951- As an obligatory precaution, the place where a person places his forehead for sajdah should not be more than four joined fingers lower or higher than the place where he places his knees and the tips of his toes, whether it is a sloping ground or not.

Issue No.954- If a person is not able to place the palms on the ground, he should place the back of his hands on the ground, and if this is not possible either, he should place the wrists, and if this cannot be done also, then as an obligatory precaution, he can place any part of his hands up to the elbow on the ground, and in case this is not possible either, he can place his arms on the ground.