Method of bowing for prostration:
❀اللَّهُ أَكْبَرْ Go into prostration while saying.
❀ When bowing down, place the hands on the ground first, then the knees. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
إذا سجد أحدكم فلا يبرك كما يبرك البعير وليضع يديه قبل ركبتيه
“When you go into prostration, do not sit like a camel, but place your hands first, then your knees.”
This hadith has been declared authentic by Imam Hakim, Imam Dhahabi, Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, and Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on them. Imam Nawawi and Zarqani, may Allah have mercy on them, considered its chain of narration strong, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani, may Allah have mercy on him, said that this hadith is stronger than the narration of Sayyidna Wa’il bin Hujr, may Allah be pleased with him, which mentions placing the knees on the ground first.
The practice of Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, also supports this hadith. It should be noted that the knees of camels and other quadrupeds are in their hands, meaning their fingers are in their legs. Lisan al-Arab
states: “The camel’s knee is in its hand, meaning in its finger-leg, and all quadrupeds have their knees in their hands.” Therefore, one should not sit like a camel, as it places its knees on the ground first, whereas we should place our hands first.
❀ Nafi’, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
أنه كان ابن عمر يضع يديه قبل ركبتيه وقال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يفعل ذلك
Our master Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, used to place his hands before his knees and said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to do the same.’
Imam Hakim declared this hadith authentic according to the conditions of Muslim, and Imam Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, agreed with him.
Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, also declared its chain authentic.
Argument of those who advocate placing the knees first:
❀ Those who advocate placing the knees first when going into prostration present the narration of Sayyiduna Wail bin Hujr رضي الله عنه as evidence, who said:
رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا سجد وضع ركبتيه قبل يديه وإذا نهض رفع يديه قبل ركبتيه
“I saw the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم when he prostrated, he would place both knees on the ground before his hands, and when he rose from prostration, he would lift both hands before the knees.”
This narration is weak due to the narrator Shareek bin Abdullah Al-Qadhi’s tadlees (concealment).
From the above details, it becomes clear that the stronger view is that when going into prostration, a person should place the hands on the ground before the knees.
Method of performing prostration:
❀ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
أمرت أن أسجد على سبعة أعظم، على الجبهة وأشار بيده على أنفه واليدين والركبتين وأطراف القدمين
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven parts: the forehead and he pointed with his hand towards his nose (meaning the forehead and nose), both hands, both knees, and the toes of both feet.”
❀ Some people do not place their nose on the ground during prostration, whereas prayer is not valid without the nose touching the ground. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
لا صلاة لمن لا يصيب أنفه من الأرض ما يصيب الجبين
“The prayer of the person whose nose does not touch the ground is not valid, just as the forehead touches.”
❀ Do not place anything on the ground (such as a pillow) that creates a gap between the forehead and the ground. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saw a sick person prostrating on a pillow, so he lifted the pillow and threw it away and said:
صل على الأرض إن استطعت
“If you have strength, then pray on the ground.”
❀ However, it is permissible to spread a cloth or prayer mat, etc.
❀ Keep both hands at the level of the shoulders.
❀ It is also permissible to place the hands at the level of the ears during prostration.
In the state of prostration, the fingers of the hands should be kept in a natural state; there is mention in a hadith of joining them, which is found in Ibn Khuzaymah
, Ibn Hibban
, and Al-Mustadrak of Hakim
, etc., but its chain is weak due to the concealment of Hashim bin Bashir.
Keep the arms raised from the ground and away from the sides. Sayyiduna Abu Humayd al-Sa’di, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
فإذا سجد وضع يديه غير مفترش ولا قابضهما
“When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prostrated, he placed his hands on the ground and did not spread his arms on the ground nor fold them close to his sides.”
❀ Keep both feet upright.
❀ Join the heels together.
❀ Bend the toes and point their tips towards the Qiblah. Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
فقدت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ليلة من الفراش فالتمسته فوقعت يدي على بطن قدمه وهو فى المسجد وهما منصوبتان راضا عقبيه مستقبلا بأطراف أصابعه القبلة
“I found the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, missing from the bed at night. I searched for him in the darkness, and my hand touched the inner parts of his feet while he was in prostration. His feet were upright, his heels were joined, and he had bent his toes pointing towards the Qiblah.”
❀ The stomach should be separated from the thighs, and the chest should be raised enough from the ground so that a baby goat can pass through.
Keep both arms open during prostration. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prayed, he spread his arms so much in prostration that the whiteness of his armpits was visible.
Do not fold your clothes or hair. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
أمرنا أن نسجد على سبعة أعظم ولا نكف ثوبا ولا شعرا
“We have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones and not to fold our clothes or hair.”
The prayer of the person who does not keep his back completely straight in prostration is not valid. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
لا تجزئ صلاة الرجل حتى يقيم ظهره فى الركوع والسجود
“A person’s prayer is not valid until he straightens his back in bowing and prostration.”
❀ It is obligatory to perform prostration with calmness. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
ثم اسجد حتى تطمئن ساجدا
“Then prostrate and do so with calmness.”
The one who does not prostrate with calmness, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said about him: “The worst thief is the thief of prayer.” The companions asked: “How does he steal from prayer?” He said: “He does not complete his bowing and prostration.”
Difference between men and women in prostration:
The method of prostration for women is the same as described above; without it, a woman’s prostration is not valid, because the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, did not specify a different method for women. However, some people have differentiated between the way men and women prostrate, saying that men should keep their thighs away from the abdomen, while women should keep their thighs close to the abdomen. This difference is not mentioned in any authentic and explicit hadith. The narration presented in this regard is very weak and is not at all worthy of being used as evidence. It is that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, passed by women who were praying and said: “When you prostrate, touch some part of your body to the ground, because the ruling for women in this is not like that of men.” Firstly, this narration is mursal (interrupted chain), secondly, it is disconnected, thirdly, it contains a narrator who is reliable but abandoned, and fourthly, it contradicts authentic narrations. Allama Ibn al-Tarkamani Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, has written in detail about this narration.
On the contrary, when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prostrated, he neither placed his hands on the ground nor kept them close to his sides.
And the noble saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is also:
لا ينبسط أحدكم ذراعيه إنبساط الكلب
“None of you should spread his arms on the ground in prostration like a dog.”
Therefore, it is established that the method of prostration for men and women is the same, with no difference whatsoever. Any woman who prostrates by spreading her hands on the ground is explicitly disobeying the command of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. May Allah grant us the ability to act accordingly. (Ameen!)
Supplications for Prostration:
❀ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد فاكثروا الدعاء
“A person is closest to his Lord while in prostration, so he should make the most supplication.”
❀ Recite any of the following supplications:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
“My Lord is free from all defects, the Most High.”
«سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي»
“O our Allah! O our Lord! You are free from all defects, we praise You and declare Your purity, O Allah! Forgive me.”
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
“O Allah! Forgive my small and big sins, those done earlier and later, those apparent and hidden.”
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
“O Allah! I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, in Your safety from Your punishment, and in Your mercy from Your torment. I cannot count Your praises. You are as You have praised Yourself.”
سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
“The Lord of the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) is very pure, very holy.”
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
“O Allah! I have prostrated for You alone, believed in You alone, obeyed You alone. My face has prostrated to the Being who created it, fashioned it, and made its ears and eyes. Blessed is Allah, the best of creators.”
سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوتِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ
“Pure is the Lord of Might, the King, the Holy, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior.”
Reciting the Qur’an during prostration is prohibited. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
ألا وإني نهيت أن أقرأ القرآن راكعا أو ساجدا
“I have been forbidden (by Allah) to recite the Qur’an while bowing or prostrating.”
Reciting the Qur’an in prostration and bowing is prohibited, but reciting Qur’anic supplications is not prohibited, because Sayyiduna Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that once the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, repeatedly recited one verse during the night prayer:
إِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
And he, peace be upon him, also recited this verse in bowing and prostration.
Therefore, this hadith proves that reciting the Qur’an as supplication in bowing and prostration is permissible, but reciting it as Qur’anic recitation is not permissible.
Statement about sitting between prostrations:
❀ الله أكبر Raise your head from prostration while saying and sit up straight with calmness.
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (RA) taught the prophetic method of prayer, which includes:
كان إذا رفع رأسه من الركوع انتصب قائما حتى يقول القائل قد نسي وبين السجدتين مكث حتى يقول القائل قد نسي
“When he would raise his head from bowing, he would stand for so long that people thought he had forgotten, and he would sit between the two prostrations for so long that the followers thought he might have forgotten.”
❀ Stand on the right foot and place the left foot flat and sit on it.
❀ It is also permissible to sit on both feet while they are upright.
❀ Recite the following supplication:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
“O my Lord! Forgive me, O my Lord! Forgive me.”
❀ At this point, Abu Dawood
and others have another supplication:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Although Allama Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) called it good, it is weak due to the fabrication by Habib bin Abi Thabit. The same supplication is also in Muslim
, but there its place is not between the two prostrations. (And Allah knows best)
❀ Then perform the second prostration (like the first prostration).
Statement of the Rest Session:
Before standing up for the second and fourth rak’ah, sit up straight, then place your hands on the ground and, putting weight on the ground, stand up for the next rak’ah.
❀ Malik bin Huwayrith رضي الله عنه prayed to demonstrate the Sunnah method, in which it is mentioned:
إذا رفع رأسه عن السجدة الثانية جلس واعتمد على الأرض ثم قام
“When he (in the first and third rak’ah) raised his head from the second prostration, he would sit and then lean on the ground and stand up.”
Some people say that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to lean on the ground to stand due to old age and weakness; this is not Sunnah. However, this statement is not correct because there is no evidence that it was solely due to old age. Moreover, the principle is that the later action abrogates and is applicable, while the earlier action is abrogated and not applicable, and this practice is from the last days of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Thirdly, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not teach the companions رضي الله عنهم the method of standing straight without sitting. On the contrary, Sayyiduna Malik bin Huwayrith رضي الله عنه (who narrates this hadith) was instructed:
“Pray and teach as you have seen me do.”
Second Rak’ah:
Start the second rak’ah with Surah Al-Fatihah, do not recite the opening supplication (Du’a al-Istiftah) in it. Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا نهض من الركعة الثانية استفتح القراءة بـ الحمد لله رب العالمين ولم يسكت
“When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood for the second rak’ah, he would begin recitation with الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ and would not remain silent for the (opening supplication).”
Before Surah Al-Fatihah, be sure to recite بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ, because it is part of Surah Al-Fatihah. Recite all other rak’ahs in the same manner.
