What are the recommended Sunnah acts in prayer, especially according to the Maliki school of thought, that are commonly practiced in Libya?
The Sunan (supererogatory acts) of prayer are numerous and are divided into verbal and physical:
Firstly: The Verbal Sunan: 1. The Opening Supplication (Du'a al-Istiftah): "O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah, cleanse me from my sins as a white garment is cleansed from dirt. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow, water, and hail." 2. Supplications during bowing (Du'a al-Ruku'): "O Allah, to You I have bowed, in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted. My hearing, my sight, my brain, my bones, my nerves, and what my feet have carried have humbled themselves before You." 3. Supplications upon rising from bowing (Du'a al-Raf' min al-Ruku'): "Filling the heavens, filling the earth, and filling what is between them, and filling whatever else You wish. O You who are worthy of praise and glory, the most rightful thing a servant can say, and we are all Your slaves. O Allah, there is none to withhold what You give, and none to give what You withhold, and the fortune of the fortunate will not benefit him against You." 4. Supplications during prostration (Du'a al-Sujud): "O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praises; You are as You have praised Yourself."
Secondly: The Physical Sunan: 1. Raising the hands with the Takbirat al-Ihram (opening Takbir) and when rising from bowing. 2. Placing the right hand over the left during prayer.
A Muslim must be keen to follow the Sunan that are authentically established from the Prophet, peace be upon him, and not abandon them for anyone's word, and explain them to people with wisdom and good admonition.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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