What is the ruling on prolonging prostration (sujud), bowing (ruku'), and standing erect (i'tidal) during supererogatory prayers (nawafil) in the mosque for more than five minutes, and what is the maximum duration for them?

Prolonging prostration (sujud), bowing (ruku'), and standing after bowing (qiyam ba'da al-ruku') in supererogatory prayers (Nawafil) are actions that bring additional reward, and there is no maximum limit for them.

Imam An-Nawawi said: "Standing, bowing, prostrating, and the tashahhud are long pillars, without dispute, so prolonging them does not harm."

Scholars differed regarding what is superior: Standing (Qiyam) is superior: Based on the hadith of Jabir, "Which prayer is best? He said: 'Prolonging the Qunut (standing).'" (Narrated by Muslim), and because the Prophet ﷺ used to prolong standing more, and because the remembrance during standing is recitation (Qira'ah), which is better than the remembrance during bowing and prostration. Prostration (Sujud) is superior: Based on the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, "The closest a servant is to his Lord is while he is prostrating." (Narrated by Muslim), and his ﷺ saying: "You should increase in prostration." Ishaq ibn Rahawayh: Increasing bowing and prostration is better during the day, and prolonging standing is better at night, except for one who has a portion [of Qur'an] for the night, in which case increasing bowing and prostration is better after reciting his portion.

Al-Shawkani indicated that the hadith "The best prayer is prolonging the Qunut" indicates that standing is superior to prostration and bowing, and this does not contradict the virtue of prostration, because prolonging standing is a specific superiority for it.