Prayer (Salah) is one of the most important Islamic worship. It is included in the five pillars of Islam and falls in second place after "profession of faith", per the order of priority in Islam. It is obligatory for every adult Muslim man and woman to perform prayer five times a day. Prayer comprises different positions or postures, such as standing, bowing (Ruku), prostration (Sujood), and sitting. All these postures are required to be attained correctly at the right time. When in any of these positions, the believers are required to recite different duas, specifically meant for each posture.
Sujood or prostration in prayer is one of the most righteous positions, as the believer is at the highest level of submission to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, when prostrating. The virtues of prostrating are also highlighted in many Quranic verses, such as the 19th verse of Surah Al-Alaq.
Translation - Beware! Do not obey him, but bow in adoration and draw near (to your Lord).
This verse implies that merely believing and obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is not sufficient. If you want to get closer to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, prostration (Sujood) is the right way to do so. Hence, Dua in sujood holds a special status in Islamic teachings, and prayer is the best time to prostrate, as it has to be done twice in each Raka’h of any obligatory or Nafl prayer.
As far as making Dua while prostrating in prayer, the Prophet said, as also reported in Hadith 482 of Sahih Muslim, that when prostrating, the believer is nearest to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Translation - he nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).
The virtue of supplication in sujood in Islam is also highlighted in Hadith 479a of Sahih Muslim. It is narrated in this Hadith that Dua during sujood holds the highest probability of being answered.
Translation of relevant part - And see that I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an in the state of bowing and prostration. So far as Ruk'u is concerned, extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord, and while prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.
Accordingly, the Prophet has taught different Dua in prostration prayer Islam, which are reported in various authentic Hadiths.
Hadith 1046 of Sunan An-Nasai mentions that the Prophet used to recite “سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى" while in Sujood in prayers.
Translation - I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he bowed and said when bowing: 'Subhana Rabbial-azim (Glory be to my Lord Almighty).' And when prostrating: 'Subhana Rabbial-'Ala (Glory be to my Lord Most High).
Hadith 487a of Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet used to recite “سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ" while in sujood.
Translation - A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to pronounce while bowing and prostrating himself: “All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit”.
Hadith 794 of Sahih Al-Bukhari narrates that the Prophet used to recite “سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي” while in Ruku or Sujood.
Translation - The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say in his bowing and prostrations, "Subhanaka l-lahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika; Allahumma ghfir li.' (Exalted [from unbecoming attributes] Are you O Allah our Lord, and by Your praise [do I exalt you]. O Allah! Forgive me.
Hadith 888 of Sunan Ibn Majah reports that the Prophet used to recite “سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى” three times, while prostrating.
Translation - It was narrated from Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say when he bowed: "Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azim (Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great)" three times, and when he prostrated, he said: "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la (Glory is to my Lord the Most High)"three times.
Another Dua for reciting while in Sujood is reported as “اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ فَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ”, as mentioned in Hadith 3422 of Jami at-Tirmidhi.
Translation of relevant part - Then, when he prostrated, he would say: "O Allah, to You have I prostrated, and in You have I believed, and to You have I submitted (in Islam), my face has prostrated to the One Who created it, and fashioned it, and gave it its hearing and sight, [so] Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators (Allāhumma laka sajadtu wa bika āmantu wa laka aslamtu, sajada wajhi lilladhī khalaqahū fa ṣuwwarahū wa shaqqa sam`ahū wa baṣarahū fatabārak Allāhu ahsanul-khāliqīn)."
Hence, any of the Duas, as reported in any of the authentic Hadith, can be recited during prostration (sujood) in Prayers.
Prayer Duas
Subhaana Rabbiyal-A'laa.
Glory is to my Lord, the Most High. (Three times)
Subhaanaka Allaahumma Rabbanaa wa bihamdika Allaahum-maghfir lee.
Glory is to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise is Yours. O Allah, forgive me.
Subboohun, Quddoosun, Rabbul-malaa'ikati warrooh.
Glory (to You), Most Holy (are You), Lord of the angels and the Spirit.
Allaahumma laka sajadtu wa bika 'aamantu, wa laka 'aslamtu, sajada wajhiya lillathee khalaqahu, wa sawwarahu, wa shaqqa sam'ahu wa basarahu, tabaarakallaahu 'ahsanul-khaaliqeen.
O Allah, to You I prostrate myself and in You I believe. To You I have submitted. My face is prostrated to the One Who created it, fashioned it, and gave it hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of creators
Subhaana thil-jabarooti, walmalakooti, walkibriyaa'i, wal'adhamati.
Glory is to You, Master of power, of dominion, of majesty and greatness.
Allaahum-maghfir lee thanbee kullahu, diqqahu wa jillahu, wa 'awwalahu wa 'aakhirahu wa 'alaaniyata hu wa sirrahu.
O Allah, forgive me all my sins, great and small, the first and the last, those that are apparent and those that are hidden.
Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu biridhaaka min sakhatika, wa bimu'aafaatika min 'uqoobatika wa 'a'oothu bika minka, laa 'uhsee thanaa'an 'alayka 'Anta kamaa 'athnayta 'alaa nafsika.
O Allah, I seek protection in Your pleasure from Your anger, and I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I seek protection in You from You. I cannot count Your praises. You are as You have praised Yourself.
As reported in various Hadiths, there is more than one Du'a, which can be recited while in Sujood during prayer. Three of them are more popular among Muslims across the world, which are mentioned here:
All the Duas recited in Sujood during prayer have one common theme: Glorifying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, Who Holds the absolute Authority and Who is the most Exalted. The purpose of making these Duas while in Sujood is to show our humility and gratitude to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ with complete submission and seek His Mercy and Forgiveness.
Sujood in salah is incomplete without reciting Subhaana Rabbiyal-A'laa 3 times. The etiquette of making dua while prostrating is that one recites it three times in each sajda with one's head on the ground while prostrating. Ibn Mas'ud reported that he heard the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) say that reciting the dua while in sujood three times is a minimum and doing the bowing in prostration is complete (Sunan Ibn Majah 890).
The etiquette of reciting Dua while in the position of prostration during any prayers is summarized below:
Sujood is a believer's closest and most private moment with their Lord. During sujood, one can confess and pray without any barriers or hesitation. It is as if one is in direct communication with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Sujood offers a presence of mind and a sense of stability in the body, as by grounding, one can maintain focus. Reciting supplications while prostration offers one a sense of calm and clarity. In its essence, this dua means submitting one's self to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and praising Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for His Greatness.
Making Duas during sujood (prostration) while praying or otherwise are summarized here:
Sujood or prostration is a physical posture where the servants are closest to their Creator. Hence, it is high time to make Duas while in Sujood, any of the authentic Duas, as reported in authentic Hadiths.
You can recite any of the recommended Duas, which are narrated in authentic Hadiths. The most common and widely practiced dus is “سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى” that should be recited thrice in each Sujood.
Although making dua during sujood is not obligatory, it is a highly emphasized Sunnah practice and highly recommended according to the majority of scholars.
Yes, you can do so, but it would be more beneficial if you could make different authentic Duas during sujood.