One of the mandatory acts while performing any of the obligatory or optional prayers is to bend in the position of Ruku. The next step after completing the process of Ruku is to rise up from the posture of Ruku. While bowing is a transitional phase in the performance of prayer, where the believer submits before Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ with complete devotion and gratitude, rising from the position of ruku is yet another transition, which holds great significance in the entire process of performance of prayer. It symbolizes that after praising and glorifying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, while bowing before Him, the believer is now standing up again in His Court. Hence, this specific phase of Prayer is equally virtuous as the Ruku itself is. Like every other positioning and posturing in prayer, rising up from Ruku is also one of the pivotal moments, for which the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ taught the believers two specific du'as. These are referred to as "dua when rising from Ruku”.
Dua, after standing from Ruku in Salah, holds great importance in Islam. In fact, it is one of the essential steps and actions, without the performance of which, Salah or prayer remains incomplete. As reported in multiple Hadiths, Dua after getting up from Rukoo comprises two parts. If it is a congregational prayer, the first part, "Sami'allaahu liman hamidah," is recited by the Imam. It is also a command by the Imam for his followers to rise up from the position of Ruku. The second part of Dua after Ruku needs to be recited by both the Imam and his followers, silently. Sometimes, both these parts are taken as two separate Dua after Ruku in Salah. If a person is praying individually, whether a Fard or Optional Prayer, both these duas or parts of the Dua after bowing in Salah are recited by them silently.
Sami'allaahu liman hamidah, Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd (Allah hears whoever praises Him. Our Lord, praise is Yours). Every Muslim knows this dua by heart as it is recited in the five daily salahs upon rising from the rukoo. Reciting this dua upon rising from the rukoo is a wajib, must, component of salah. Forgoing this step knowingly will make your salah incomplete. Apart from being essential to the completion of Salah, this dua is a preamble, a beautiful way to gain Allah's attention. The believer seeks to divert Allah's attention towards them by stating that Allah hears whoever praises HIM. O Lord, all praises are yours; look upon me as I kneel and prostrate in prayer and answer my prayers.
The dua for upon rising from the rukoo has been reiterated time and again by the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) as found in various hadith. The dua voices the glory of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and declares that all praises and good words are for Him (Sahih al-Bukhari 799).
Hadith 799 of Sahih Al-Bukhari specifies both parts of the Islamic Dua after rising from Ruku and the correct posture to be attained after rising from Ruku.
Translation - Narrated Rifa`a bin Rafi` Az-Zuraqi: One day, we were praying behind the Prophet. When he raised his head from bowing, he said, "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah." A man behind him said, "Rabbana wa laka l-hamdu, hamdan kathiran taiyiban mubarakan fihi" (O our Lord! All the praises are for You, many good and blessed praises). When the Prophet completed the prayer, he asked, "Who has said these words?" The man replied, "I." The Prophet said, "I saw over thirty angels competing to write it first." Prophet rose (from bowing) and stood straight till all the vertebrae of his spinal column came to a natural position.
A similar narration is also recorded in Hadith 1062 of Sunan An-Nasai. A shorter narration on this subject is also available in Hadith 796 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, as follows:
Translation - Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When the Imam says, "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah," you should say, "Allahumma Rabbana laka l-hamd." And if the saying of any one of you coincides with that of the angels, all his past sins will be forgiven."
Prayer Duas
Sami'allaahu liman hamidah.
Allah hears whoever praises Him.
Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd, hamdan i katheeran tayyiban mubaarakanfeeh.
Our Lord, praise is Yours, abundant, good and blessed praise.
Mil'as-samaawaati wa mil 'al-'ardhi wa maa baynahumaa, wa mil 'a maa shi'ta min shay 'in ba'd. 'Ahlath-thanaa'i walmajdi, 'ahaqqu maa qaalal-'abdu, wa kullunaa laka 'abdun. Allaahumma laa maani'a limaa 'a'tayta, wa laa mu'tiya limaa mana'ta, wa laa yanfa'uthal-jaddi minkal-jadd.
(A praise that) fills the heavens and the earth and what lies between them, and whatever else You please. (You Allah) are most worthy of praise and majesty, and what the slave has said, we are all Your slaves. O Allah, there is none who can withhold what You give, and none may give what You have withheld. And the might of the mighty person cannot benefit him against You.
Dua after rising from Ruku comprises two parts. Different versions of this Dua are available in Hadiths, with slight variations. However, the majority of scholars recommend following Dua, in the light of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
This Dua is to be recited by the Imam loudly in congregational prayers and silently by individuals when praying individually. These two parts are essential for every prayer, Fard or Optional, and in each Raka’ah when rising from the position of Ruku.
First Part of Dua - سَمِـعَ اللَّهُ لِمَـنْ حَمِـدَه
Meaning – Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ listens to whoever praises Him.
Second Part of Dua - رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْداً كَثِيراً طَيِّباً مُبَارَكاً فِيهِ
Meaning – O Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ All the praises are for you, many good and blessed praises.
Shorter Version of Second Part - رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Meaning – O Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ All the praises are for you.
Collectively, both parts of this Dua, including the longer and shorter versions of the second part, are about praising and glorifying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The first part indicates the firm belief of Muslims that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ listens to every supplication, while the second part is the response of the believers on this unwavering trust in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, affirming that only He is Worth all praises, the praises which are countless and are the best among all praises.
Prayer (salah) requires great concentration and attention on the believer's part. Therefore, the dua to be recited upon rising from the rukoo should be recited with utmost concentration and wholeheartedness. Secondly, the believer must believe that Allah Azzawajal is listening to their prayer and will make it come true if it is beneficial for them.
Reciting the specific Dua while rising from the position Ruku is a highly virtuous part of prayer; hence, we need to observe the following etiquette in doing so and reciting the prescribed Dua.
The single most important benefit of the dua upon rising from the rukoo is proclaiming the greatness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Thus, the Almighty hears the person who praises Him. Thereby, this dua serves as a prerequisite for the many wishes of a believer being fulfilled by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and him being showered by the blessings of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). The recitation of this dua also increases one's good deeds multifold in addition to the forgiveness of one's sins.
When rising up from the position of Ruku, it is necessary to recite the specific Dua, comprising two parts, as mentioned in various Hadiths. First part (Sami'allaahu liman hamidah), second part (Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd, hamdan i katheeran tayyiban mubaarakanfeeh) or simply “Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd).
Yes, you can recite any of the longer versions available in the authentic Hadith collections.
No, in this transitional phase during prayer, you are required to recite only the authentic versions of specific Dua, as mentioned in Hadiths.
It is quite easy to memorize this Dua, and you must make sincere efforts to memorize it. However, if you forget it for any reason, your prayer will remain valid.