{"id":40622,"date":"2026-02-26T12:42:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T12:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/?p=40622"},"modified":"2026-02-26T22:53:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T22:53:24","slug":"analysis-of-straightening-the-back-in-ruku-according-to-the-hanafi-school-in-light-of-the-hadith-a-prayer-is-not-valid-without-straightening-the-spine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/analysis-of-straightening-the-back-in-ruku-according-to-the-hanafi-school-in-light-of-the-hadith-a-prayer-is-not-valid-without-straightening-the-spine\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis Of Straightening The Back In Ruku\u2018 According To The Hanafi School In Light Of The Hadith \u201cA Prayer Is Not Valid Without Straightening The Spine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fatwa ID: 08791<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Answered by Alimah Humairah Badshah<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Question<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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I have a question about prayer. I heard in the Hanafi school, we don’t need to straighten our back during rukoo which means if my back is slightly bent, my prayer would still be valid but this Hadith verse says this: “A prayer in which a person does not straighten his spine in his rukoo\u2019 and sujood does not count.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2\/52). I am a little confused because many Islamic websites say my prayer is still valid but this Hadith verse seems like it’s saying otherwise unless I am misinterpreting it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Answer<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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The hadith you mentioned appears to be the hadith of Jami` at-Tirmidhi [265] which is narrated as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c\u0644\u0627\u064e \u062a\u064f\u062c\u0652\u0632\u0650\u0626\u064f \u0635\u064e\u0644\u0627\u064e\u0629\u064c \u0644\u0627\u064e \u064a\u064f\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u062c\u064f\u0644\u064f \u0641\u0650\u064a\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0635\u064f\u0644\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064f\u0643\u064f\u0648\u0639\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064f\u062c\u064f\u0648\u062f\u0650\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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This hadith has been translated in the English language as you have described, with the word \u2018straighten\u2019. However, an equally valid translation is \u201cThe Salat is not acceptable if a man is not at rest – meaning his back – while bowing and prostrating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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This difference in translation is due to the Arabic verb which one is being commanded to fulfil in ruku\u2019 and sujud: \u201c\u064a\u064f\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u201d. This verb is a common and expansive word with both literal and metaphorical meanings. For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah [2:43] it is said:<\/span><\/p>\n

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{\u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df \u0671\u0644\u0635\u0651\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0648\u0670\u0629\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0621\u064e\u0627\u062a\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df \u0671\u0644\u0632\u0651\u064e\u0643\u064e\u0648\u0670\u0629\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0671\u0631\u0652\u0643\u064e\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df \u0645\u064e\u0639\u064e \u0671\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0670\u0643\u0650\u0639\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e}<\/span><\/p>\n

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This verse has been translated as \u201cAnd establish prayer and give zak\u0101h and bow with those who bow\u201d, with the verb {\u0623\u064e\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df} being translated as \u201cestablish\u201d. Other translations of this verse instead translate {\u0623\u064e\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df} as \u201cbe steadfast\u201d. Additionally, a conjugation of this verb is used as the term for the standing position in salah: the word \u201cQiyaam (\u0642\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0627\u0645)\u201d is used to mean \u201cstanding\u201d, as this verb often means \u201cto stand\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Another indication that this hadith is not necessitating that the back be perfectly straight at a right-angle to the legs is the fact that \u201c\u064a\u064f\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u201d is mentioned for both ruko\u2019 and sujud in a way which equivalates the two in this quality. While it is possible to achieve the aforementioned straightness in ruku\u2019, it does not appear normally possible to achieve this sort of \u2018straightness\u2019 in prostration, or in fact to achieve any position of the back in sujud which, when replicated in ruku\u2019, would be considered \u2018straight\u2019 in the aforementioned way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Therefore, the word \u201c\u064a\u064f\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u201d in this hadith can be thought of to mean \u201cto come to a standstill\u201d, \u201cto settle\u201d, or \u201cto bring to rest\u201d. This hadith can be interpreted as commanding that one should make sure one\u2019s back comes to a stop and stays in the position of ruku\u2019 and sujud to the extent that their back becomes calm and settled. This is called \u2018Ta’deel-e-Arkaan\u2019, and it is considered wajib.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keep in mind that keeping the back straight in ruku\u2019 is indeed a Sunnah which one should follow. All that is being clarified here is that it is not an act where missing it would render the salah null and void. Nevertheless, men should still strive to straighten the back during ruku\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

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References<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u0634\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0627\u0646\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0633\u064d \u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a \u0647\u064f\u0631\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0631\u0650\u0641\u064e\u0627\u0639\u064e\u0629\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0632\u0651\u064f\u0631\u064e\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0651\u0650 \u200f.\u200f \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0623\u064e\u0628\u064f\u0648 \u0639\u0650\u064a\u0633\u064e\u0649 \u062d\u064e\u062f\u0650\u064a\u062b\u064f \u0623\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a \u0645\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u062f\u064d \u0627\u0644\u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u0635\u064e\u0627\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0651\u0650 \u062d\u064e\u062f\u0650\u064a\u062b\u064c \u062d\u064e\u0633\u064e\u0646\u064c \u0635\u064e\u062d\u0650\u064a\u062d\u064c \u200f.\u200f \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0639\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0644\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0647\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u0639\u0650\u0646\u0652\u062f\u064e 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\u0635\u064f\u0644\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064f\u0643\u064f\u0648\u0639\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064f\u062c\u064f\u0648\u062f\u0650 \u200f”\u200f \u200f.\u200f \u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0628\u064f\u0648 \u0645\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0631\u064d \u0627\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064f\u0647\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u0650 \u0628\u0652\u0646\u064f \u0633\u064e\u062e\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0629\u064e \u200f.\u200f \u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0628\u064f\u0648 \u0645\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u062f\u064d \u0627\u0644\u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u0635\u064e\u0627\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0628\u064e\u062f\u0652\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064f \u0627\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064f\u0647\u064f \u0639\u064f\u0642\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0629\u064f \u0628\u0652\u0646\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0631\u064d\u0648 \u200f.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n

Jami` at-Tirmidhi (https:\/\/sunnah.com) b.2, no.117 (265)<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df \u0671\u0644\u0635\u0651\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0648\u0670\u0629\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0621\u064e\u0627\u062a\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df \u0671\u0644\u0632\u0651\u064e\u0643\u064e\u0648\u0670\u0629\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0671\u0631\u0652\u0643\u064e\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0627\u06df \u0645\u064e\u0639\u064e \u0671\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0670\u0643\u0650\u0639\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e<\/span><\/p>\n

Surah Al-Baqarah [2:43]<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u0648\u064e\u064a\u064e\u0628\u0652\u0633\u064f\u0637\u064e \u0638\u064e\u0647\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0647\u064f) \u0648\u064e\u064a\u064f\u0633\u064e\u0648\u0650\u0651\u064a\u064e \u0638\u064e\u0647\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0628\u0650\u0639\u064e\u062c\u064f\u0632\u0650\u0647\u0650<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0648\u064e\u0643\u064e\u0627\u0646\u064e \u064a\u064e\u0646\u0652\u0628\u064e\u063a\u0650\u064a \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0630\u0652\u0643\u064f\u0631\u064e \u0644\u064e\u0641\u0652\u0638\u064e \u064a\u064f\u0633\u064e\u0646\u064f\u0651 \u0639\u0650\u0646\u0652\u062f\u064e \u0642\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0644\u0650\u0647\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u064a\u064e\u0636\u064e\u0639\u064f \u064a\u064e\u062f\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0647\u0650 \u0644\u0650\u064a\u064f\u0639\u0652\u0644\u064e\u0645\u064e \u0623\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0651 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0648\u064e\u0636\u0652\u0639\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u0627\u0639\u0652\u062a\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0627\u062f\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0641\u0652\u0631\u0650\u064a\u062c\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0625\u0650\u0644\u0652\u0635\u064e\u0627\u0642\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0646\u064e\u0651\u0635\u0652\u0628\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0637\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0633\u0652\u0648\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0629\u064e \u0643\u064f\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0633\u064f\u0646\u064e\u0646\u064c \u0643\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0642\u064f\u0647\u064f\u0633\u0652\u062a\u064e\u0627\u0646\u0650\u064a\u0650\u0651<\/span><\/p>\n

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, https:\/\/shamela.ws<\/a>) v.1 p.494<\/span><\/p>\n

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Only Allah (\u0639\u0632 \u0648 \u062c\u0644) knows best.<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by Alimah Humairah Badshah<\/span><\/p>\n

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah<\/span><\/p>\n

Darul Ifta Birmingham<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fatwa ID: 08791     Answered by Alimah Humairah Badshah   Question:   I have a question about prayer. I heard in the Hanafi school,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40622"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40622"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40635,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40622\/revisions\/40635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}