God says
Celebrate your Sustainer’s limitless glory and be of those who prostrate themselves (before Him) in adoration. -- Q.15:98
O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Sustainer’s (only) … Q.22:77
“Did We not grant you a life long enough so that whoever was willing to reflect could bethink of himself?*….” Q.35:37
*According to Ibn-i-Abbas and other scholars “long life” means the age of 60 years. Imams: Hasan, Kalabi and Masrooq have taken it as 40 years. In Madina it is said that when a person reached the age of 40 years, he used to dedicate himself to prayer.
Prophet said
“Perform the bowings and prostrations (properly). By God, I certainly see you from my back.”* -- H: Bukhari and Muslim.
*One of the miracles of the Prophet.
“When one bows down (in Ruk’u) and says at least thrice SUBHANA RABBI-YAL AZ’ EEM (glory be to my Lord, the Great) his bowing becomes perfect. And when he prostrates (sajdah) and says at least three times SUBHANA RABBI-YAL A’ALA (glory be to my Lord, Most High) his prostration becomes perfect” - H: Tirmuzi, Ibn Daud & Ibn Majah. N: ‘Auon-b-Abdullah from Ibn Masud.
“A servant (of God) becomes nearest to God while he is in prostration” -- H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
The Prophet often recited: “SUBHANALLAH WA BIHAMDIHI, ASTAGHFIRULLAH WA AATUBO ELAYH” (Holly is Allah and His is all praise: I seek forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance).
Bibi Ayesha asked him: “Messenger of Allah! I hear you recite often “SUBHANALLAH WA BIHAMDIHI, ASTAGHFIRULLAH WA AATUBO ELAYH” .
According to the Prophet, so was the command in Surah Nasr: “When God’s help comes, and victory, and thou seest people enter God’s religion in hosts, extol thy Sustainer’s limitless glory, and praise Him, and seek His forgiveness, for, behold, He is ever an acceptor of repentance” (110:3Q.)
