It was narrated from ˁUqbah ibn ˁAāmir (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the verse “So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great (Al-ˁAẓīm)” [Quran 56:74] was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Say it in your bowing (Rukūˁ).” And when the verse “Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High (Al-ˀAˁlā)” [Quran 87:1] was revealed, he said, “Say it in your prostration (Sujūd).” This Ḥadīth was narrated in this form by a group of scholars, including ˀAḥmad in al-Musnad, Al-Bayhaqiy in Al-Sunan, Al-Ḥākim in al-Mustadrak, Abu Yaˁlā, and others.
However, some scholars have criticized its chain in terms of authenticity, but the widespread transmission of the narration and the practice of the people make it authoritative. As for the one who forgets the glorification (saying Subḥan Rabbi al-ˁAẓīm) or replaces the word of glorification with the word of magnification (saying Subḥan Rabbi al-ˀAˁlā), the majority of scholars say that there is nothing wrong with him, as it is a recommended act. This is the view of Mālik, Ash-Shāfiˁiy, Abū Ḥanīfah, and a narration from ˀAḥmad, and it is the opinion of the majority of scholars based on the Ḥadīth of the one who was making mistakes in his prayer and the Ḥadīths that are mentioned in reference to the Remembrance of Allah are deemed recommended as a compromise between the different narrations.
However, the Ḥanbalis and the scholars of Ḥadīth believe that glorification is obligatory, and whoever ignores it intentionally must perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujūd as-Sahw). Their argument is based on the aforementioned Ḥadīth of ˁUqbah and the regular practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
What we prefer is the view of the majority of scholars, which is that there is nothing wrong with the one who forgets or intentionally replaces the glorification with the magnification.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr