Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti, I want to ask, what is the ruling if I supplicate when I’m performing rukuk?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Supplication is a highly encouraged worship anytime, anywhere and in any situation. This is according to a statement of Allah SWT:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."
Surah Ghaafir (60)
Referring to the above evidences of syarak, we found there are specific places, times and situations at which it is easier for our supplication to be granted. For example, the last hird of the night, during sujud (prostration in prayer), between the two adhan, during travels and others as stated in other authentic hadiths.
Coming back to the question of the ruling of supplicating during rukuk, the scholars are divided to two opinions according to their understanding on a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas RA, where the Porphet PBUH said:
إِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ رَاكِعًا أَوْ سَاجِدًا فَأَمَّا الرُّكُوعُ فَعَظِّمُوا فِيهِ الرَّبَّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَمَّا السُّجُودُ فَاجْتَهِدُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ
“I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an in the state of bowing and prostration. So far as Ruk'u is concerned, extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord, and while prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.”
Sahih Muslim (479)
In Imam Malik’s opinion, supplicating while one is in rukuk is makruh (undesirable). The reason is, the hadith is commanding a person to praise and glorify Allah SWT while one is in rukuk (bow) and not supplicating. While the encouragement for supplication is when one is in sujud (prostration).
The majority of scholars are of the opinion that it is permissible to supplicate while one is in rukuk (bow). They supported their opinion with a hadith narrated by Ummul Mu’minin A’syah R.Anha, where she said:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ فِي رُكُوعِهِ وَسُجُودِهِ سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say in his bowings and prostrations, "Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbanã wa bihamdika, Allãhumma ighfirli" (Glorified be You, O Allah, our Lord! All the praises are for You. O Allah, forgive me)!"
Sahih al-Bukhari (794)
The fiqh that is applied by Imam al-Bukhari on this hadith can be seen through the division of chapters in his book Sahih al-Bukhari, he said “The Chapter of Supplication in Rukuk.” Thus, this hadith is a clear evidence in describing the permissibility of supplication in rukuk.
Closing
To conclude, we would like to state that it is permissible to supplicate in rukuk. Even though the prioritized time for supplication is in sujud according to the encouragement that is stated in the above hadith we presented earlier.
Lastly, we pray that Allah SWT give us the right understanding for us in religion. Amin.