The effects of rukū‘

The effects of rukū‘

Imām al-Bāqir (‘a) says: “Anyone who perfectly performs his rukū‘ perfectly will be safe from the horror of the grave.”[1]

The more we bow down in humility to God, the more we shall have the power to confront the Satan and satanic ones. Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) says: “Long rukū‘ and sujūd makes Iblīs angry, saying, ‘Woe to me! With such quality of servitude, the people will no longer obey me.”[2]

God says to the angels: “See my servants, how they express reverence to Me and they kneel down in front of Me. I shall also exalt them and give them honor and glory.”[3]

Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) says: “A long rukū‘ and sujūd have effects on the longevity of life.”[4]

The etiquette of performing rukū‘

We read in the traditions that during rukū‘ the blessed back of the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) would be so bent and so straight that if a drop of water was poured on his back, it would remain in the center of his back and not fall to either side.”[5]

It is thus enjoined: “During rukū‘ stretch your neck as if to say: ‘I have accepted the faith even if I am beheaded in His way.”[6]

Among the other etiquettes of performing rukū‘ is that men have to position their elbows outwardly like the wings of a bird and not to attach them to their flanks. We have to place the palms of our hands on our knees and spread our fingers. The feet must be aligned, neither one of them should be placed forward nor backward. Between the feet there must be the distance of about one hand span.

During rukū‘ one must look between the feet and after the recital of the dhikr for rukū‘, while still in the position of rukū‘ one must invoke blessings [ṣalāwah] upon Muḥammad and his progeny (‘a). Of course, repetition of the dhikr for rukū‘ at least thrice has been recommended and is preferred.[7]

The rukū‘ of the saints of God

Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) says: “Hadrat ‘Alī (‘a) would make his rukū‘ so long that his legs would perspire.”[8]

Imām ‘Alī (‘a) himself thus says in the first sermon of Nahj al-Balāghah: “God has angels who are always in the state of rukū‘ and will never rise up [qiyām].”

Of course, tiredness and hunger are not applicable to the angels. So, those who are gnostics and lovers of God and who perform such long rukū‘ persuade the angels to praise God. This is the state of the saints of God. Yet, what about us? The Prophet (ṣ) was once sitting in the mosque when a certain man entered and stood in prayer, but his rukū‘ and sujūd were defective and done very quickly. The Prophet (ṣ) said: “He is like a crow that would peck and go. If he departs from this world with such a state of prayer, he will not have died under my religion.”[9]