Rulings of Prostration – Detailed Explanation
➊ Saying Takbeer before Prostration
Hadith:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) intended to prostrate, he would say Takbeer first, then prostrate, and when he stood up from Tashahhud, he would say Takbeer first, then stand up.”
➋ Placing the Hands before the Knees in Prostration
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“When any of you prostrates, he should not sit like a camel, but place both his hands before his knees.”
Imam Nawawi and Zarqani have graded the chain of this narration as sound.
Contrary Narration:
Sayyiduna Wa’il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates
mentioning placing the knees before the hands,
which Imam Darqutni, Bayhaqi, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on them) have declared weak.
Authentic Supporting Narration:
It is narrated from Nafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him):
“Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to place his hands before his knees and said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to do the same.”
Hakim, Dhahabi, and Ibn Khuzaymah have declared it authentic.
Opinions of the Imams:
Imam Awza’i, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Shaykh Ahmad Shakir (may Allah have mercy on them) also preferred placing the hands first.
Ibn Abi Dawood said:
“My inclination is towards the hadith of Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) because there are many narrations from the Companions and the Successors regarding this.”
➌ Placing the Seven Parts of the Prostration on the Ground
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead (and he pointed with his hand towards the nose), both hands, both knees, and the toes of both feet. And we should not gather our clothes and hair.”
Other Instructions:
It is necessary to place all seven limbs completely on the ground.
Men should not roll up their sleeves during prostration.
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, placed his palms and knees on the ground during prostration.”
It is necessary to place the nose on the ground:
“The prayer of the person whose nose does not touch the ground like the forehead is not valid.”
Correction of the action:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both:
“The Prophet, peace be upon him, came to a companion who was placing only his forehead in prostration, not his nose. He said: ‘Place your nose on the ground so that it also prostrates with you.'”
➍ Placing the hands at the level of the shoulders or head
Narration:
Sayyiduna Abu Humaid Saidi رضي الله عنه narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم placed his nose and forehead on the ground in prostration, kept his arms away from his sides, and placed his hands at shoulder level.”
Narration:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم placed his head between both hands during prostration.”
➎ Joining the fingers of the hands
Practice:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم spread his fingers in bowing and kept the fingers joined in prostration.”
➏ Joining both heels
Narration:
Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها states:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in prostration, his both heels were joined and the tips of his fingers were facing the Qiblah.”
➐ Raising the elbows in prostration and avoiding spreading the arms
Prophetic command صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
“When you prostrate, place both your hands on the ground and do not raise your elbows.”
Other Instructions:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to lift his elbows off the ground and keep them away from his sides.”
“He would spread his arms so much that the whiteness of his armpits would be visible.”
“If a goat’s kid wanted to pass, it could pass.”
Warning to Women:
Many women spread their arms in prostration, joining their stomach to their thighs and do not place their feet on the ground, which is against the Sunnah.
Command:
“None of you should spread his arms in prostration like a dog spreads them.”
➑ Prostrating on the Ground or Mat
Prophetic Practice ﷺ:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to prostrate on the ground because there was no floor in the Prophet’s Mosque; in extreme heat, he would place a cloth and prostrate on it.
“On the 21st night of Ramadan, after rain, he ﷺ prostrated in the mud, and there were marks of mud on his forehead and nose.”
On one occasion, he prostrated on a black mat.
Response to women’s objection:
The excuse “A woman’s chest is raised” is incorrect. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made it obligatory to cover, which maintains modesty even during prostration.
The female companions always prayed with complete modesty and according to the Sunnah.
➒ Prolonging the prostration
Prophetic practice ﷺ:
Generally, the prostration was as long as the bowing.
Sometimes, due to circumstances, the prostration was longer.
On one occasion, the Prophet ﷺ started the prayer carrying Hasan or Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) and prolonged the prostration.
Explanation:
“People asked after the prayer, ‘Why did you prolong the prostration?’ He said: ‘My son had mounted on my back, and I did not consider it appropriate to disturb him by lifting my head from the prostration.'”
