Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. O sheikh, I was wondering about an action of the Sunnah in the prayer regarding pausing during recitation. I know that it is from the Sunnah to pause after each Quran verse that is recited in the prayer. My question is: is it also from the Sunnah to pause in other areas of the prayer, such as when you say the Takbeer (saying: Allahu Akbar [Allah is Most Great]) in order to bow. I was praying at the masjid, and the imam finished reciting a surah, then paused, then said Takbeer, and then bowed. I was also wondering if it is from the Sunnah to pause in other parts of the prayer, such as in the prostration when you say: "Subhaana Rabbi Al-A‘alaa wa bihamdihi" (glory to my Lord, the Most High, and praise be to Him) three times, is it from the Sunnah to pause between each one? And is it from the Sunnah to pause after reciting the third "Subhaana rabbi Al-‘Atheem wa bihamdihi" (glory to my Lord, the Magnificent, and praise be to Him) before saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah heard the one who praised Him)? May Allah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

In regard to pausing before bowing, then it is part of the Sunnah according to many scholars.

Ibn Qudaamah said:

"When he (the praying person) finishes the recitation, then (Imaam) Ahmad said, 'He should remain in the standing position and remain silent until his breath returns to him before he bows down, and he should not join his recitation with the Takbeer of bowing.

It was narrated that the Prophet used to observe two pauses: a pause at the beginning of the prayer, and another pause when he finishes the recitation. This is in the hadeeth of Samurah as narrated by Abu Daawood and others."

As for the pause between each two Tasbeehah (i.e. saying Subhaana Rabbi Al-‘Atheem while bowing and Subhaana Rabbi Al-A‘laa while prostrating), then we have not come across any statement of the scholars about whether or not they are recommended.

If you mean pausing after reciting every sentence or connecting it with the next sentence, then it appears that this matter is broad and flexible, so whoever wishes to pause may do so, and whoever wishes not to pause may also do so.

Finally, we draw your attention to the fact that the Takbeer for moving from one position to another is to be said when moving down for bowing or prostrating, and not before that or after it.

Allah knows best.