Chapter on the Manner of Prayer, Explanation of the Fifty-One Rak‘ahs; The Order, Recitation, Tasbih in Bowing and Prostration, Qunut, and What is Obligatory and Recommended Therein

And from him, from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan from al-Husayn from al-Hasan from Zur‘ah from Sama‘ah who said: I asked Him عليه السلام about ‘ruku’ and ‘sujud’, whether they were mentioned in the Qur’an. Imam عليه السلام said: “Yes, in the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic: ‘O you who believe, bow and prostrate’.” (Surah Hajj 22:77) I asked: “What is the minimum required for ‘ruku’ and ‘sujud’?” Imam عليه السلام said: “As for what suffices you in ‘ruku’, it is to say three ‘tasbihat’, ‘Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah’ three times. And whoever is able to lengthen the ‘ruku’ and ‘sujud’, let him lengthen them as much as he is able. That should be in glorifying Allah سبحانه وتعالى, praising Him سبحانه وتعالى, magnifying Him سبحانه وتعالى, supplicating, and showing humility, for the closest a servant is to his Lord عز وجل is when he is in ‘sujud’. As for the imam (of prayer), when he leads the people in prayer, he should not prolong it for them, for among them are the weak and those who have needs. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, used to lighten the prayer when leading the people.”