Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 348
Is there any ḥadīth in which the Prophet ﷺ commanded that the nose must also touch the ground during sujūd? Since the aḥādīth mention sujūd upon seven parts, would including the nose not make them eight?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The authentic aḥādīth mention seven body parts for sujūd. The forehead is included among these, and since the nose is part of the forehead, placing it on the ground does not increase the number — they remain seven.
➊ Narration of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“The Prophet ﷺ was commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead, the two hands, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet — and not to tuck up the hair or the clothes.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā Sabʿah Aʿẓum)
In this narration, the nose is not mentioned explicitly, but it is included with the forehead.
➋ Another narration of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead” — and he indicated with his hand toward his nose — “and on the two hands, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet, and not to gather up the clothes or the hair.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā al-Anf; also Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This clearly proves that the nose is included with the forehead.
➌ Narration in Sunan al-Nasā’ī:
The Prophet ﷺ placed his hands on his forehead and then passed them down to his nose and said:
“This is one (organ).”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā al-Rukbatayn)
➍ Narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead” — and he pointed with his hand to his nose — “the two hands, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet, and not to gather up the clothes or the hair.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Bāb Aʿḍāʾ al-Sujūd)
This confirms that the nose and forehead are treated as one organ in sujūd.
➎ Imām al-Bukhārī’s chapter heading:
He included a chapter: “Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā al-Anf fī al-Ṭīn” (Prostrating on the nose even in mud).
He cited the narration of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) regarding the Prophet’s iʿtikāf, in which he said:
“I saw the trace of mud and water on the Prophet’s forehead and the tip of his nose.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
This shows that the Prophet ﷺ placed his nose on the ground even in mud.
From the authentic aḥādīth:
✔ Prostration must be made with the forehead and nose together.
✔ The nose alone is not sufficient, but the forehead without the nose is also incomplete.
✔ The stronger opinion is that both must be placed, as the Prophet ﷺ did so consistently.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
Is there any ḥadīth in which the Prophet ﷺ commanded that the nose must also touch the ground during sujūd? Since the aḥādīth mention sujūd upon seven parts, would including the nose not make them eight?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The authentic aḥādīth mention seven body parts for sujūd. The forehead is included among these, and since the nose is part of the forehead, placing it on the ground does not increase the number — they remain seven.
Evidences from the Aḥādīth
➊ Narration of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“The Prophet ﷺ was commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead, the two hands, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet — and not to tuck up the hair or the clothes.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā Sabʿah Aʿẓum)
In this narration, the nose is not mentioned explicitly, but it is included with the forehead.
➋ Another narration of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead” — and he indicated with his hand toward his nose — “and on the two hands, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet, and not to gather up the clothes or the hair.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā al-Anf; also Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This clearly proves that the nose is included with the forehead.
➌ Narration in Sunan al-Nasā’ī:
The Prophet ﷺ placed his hands on his forehead and then passed them down to his nose and said:
“This is one (organ).”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā al-Rukbatayn)
➍ Narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead” — and he pointed with his hand to his nose — “the two hands, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet, and not to gather up the clothes or the hair.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Bāb Aʿḍāʾ al-Sujūd)
This confirms that the nose and forehead are treated as one organ in sujūd.
➎ Imām al-Bukhārī’s chapter heading:
He included a chapter: “Bāb al-Sujūd ʿalā al-Anf fī al-Ṭīn” (Prostrating on the nose even in mud).
He cited the narration of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) regarding the Prophet’s iʿtikāf, in which he said:
“I saw the trace of mud and water on the Prophet’s forehead and the tip of his nose.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
This shows that the Prophet ﷺ placed his nose on the ground even in mud.
Scholarly Opinions
- Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمه الله): Either the forehead or the nose on the ground is sufficient.
- Imām Aḥmad, Imām al-Bukhārī, and Ibn Ḥabīb (رحمهم الله): It is obligatory to place both the forehead and the nose on the ground.
- Most scholars: The nose and forehead are counted as one organ, so the aḥādīth remain consistent with seven parts.
Conclusion
From the authentic aḥādīth:
✔ Prostration must be made with the forehead and nose together.
✔ The nose alone is not sufficient, but the forehead without the nose is also incomplete.
✔ The stronger opinion is that both must be placed, as the Prophet ﷺ did so consistently.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
