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What is the meaning of the Prophet's saying, "Give every surah its due right of bowing (rukūʿ) and prostration (sujūd)," and is it obligatory to prolong bowing and prostration as much as prolonging standing (qiyām)? Is this the meaning of the hadith?

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Scholars have differed in their interpretation of the Hadith: "Give every Surah its share of bowing (Ruku') and prostration (Sujud)." Some are of the view that it is a prohibition against reciting more than one Surah in a single Rak'ah. Others believe that the intended meaning is that the length of the Ruku' and Sujud should be proportionate to the length of the recitation. Some scholars have favored the opinion that the Hadith means not to confine oneself to a part of a Surah, but to recite it in its entirety, or that it refers to not giving the Qur'an its due right of slow, melodious recitation (Tartil) and proper enunciation (Tajwid), keeping in mind that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would sometimes recite more than one Surah in a single Rak'ah.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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