✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
Sujood is a pillar of Salah in which utmost submission and humility before Allah ﷻ is manifested. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ demonstrated a specific and precise manner of performing Sujood, which is preserved through authentic Ahadith.
It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When one of you prostrates, let him not go down like a camel. Rather, let him place his hands before his knees."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 746; Abū Dāwūd: 840; Aḥmad: 2/381; Dārimī: 1/303; Nasā’ī: 20732; Dāraquṭnī: 1/244; Bayhaqī: 2/100; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 2/249]
✔ Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله reconciled this with other narrations and supported this view.
[Bulūgh al-Marām: 331; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/82; Subul al-Salām: 1/316]
Nāfiʿ رحمه الله narrated that Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما would place his hands before his knees, saying that the Prophet ﷺ did the same.
[Ibn Khuzaymah: 628; Dāraquṭnī: 1/344; Bayhaqī: 2/100; Ḥākim: 1/226; Bukhārī (Taʿlīq): 2/298]
✔ Those who argue for placing knees before hands rely on a narration from Wāʾil ibn Ḥujr, but:
[Ḍaʿīf: Abū Dāwūd: 838; Tirmidhī: 267; Nasā’ī: 2/234; Ibn Mājah: 882; Dāraquṭnī: 1/345; Ibn Khuzaymah: 626]
✔ This narration has been graded weak, and is adopted mainly by the Ḥanafī scholars and the majority (jumhūr) based on preference, not authenticity.
From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When a servant prostrates, seven bones prostrate with him: the face (including nose), both hands, both knees, and the toes of both feet."
[Muslim: 491; Abū Dāwūd: 891; Nasā’ī: 2/208; Ibn Mājah: 775; Aḥmad: 1/206; Ibn Khuzaymah: 1/6; Ibn Ḥibbān: 1921]
✔ Another narration adds:
"I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones..." — and the Prophet ﷺ pointed to his nose along with his forehead.
[Bukhārī: 812, 815; Muslim: 230; Abū Dāwūd: 889; Tirmidhī: 273; Nasā’ī: 2/208; Ibn Mājah: 1040]
✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله emphasized the importance of the nose touching the ground, quoting:
"There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not touch the ground as the forehead does."
[Tamām al-Minnah: p. 170]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When you prostrate, place your palms on the ground and raise your elbows."
[Muslim: 494; Aḥmad: 4/283; Ibn Khuzaymah: 656; Bayhaqī: 2/113]
[Ḥākim: 1/228; Ibn Khuzaymah: 654]
[Bukhārī: 828; Abū Dāwūd: 732]
The Prophet ﷺ kept:
✔ Hands away from the sides,
✔ Chest raised from the thighs,
✔ Thighs raised from the legs.
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 670; Abū Dāwūd: 730, 963]
It is narrated:
"When the Prophet ﷺ prostrated, he would join his fingers."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ḥākim: 1/244]
From Anas رضي الله عنه:
"In intense heat, we would lay our garment down and prostrate on it."
[Bukhārī: 385; Muslim: 620; Abū Dāwūd: 660; Tirmidhī: 584; Nasā’ī: 2/216; Ibn Mājah: 1033]
✔ There is no separate method of Sujood for women authentically proven in any Hadith.
✔ The correct method for women is the same as that of men, with modesty and covering observed.
❖ Place hands before knees while going into Sujood (based on stronger Hadith).
❖ Seven body parts must touch the ground: forehead (and nose), both hands, both knees, both feet.
❖ Keep elbows off the ground, and fingers together.
❖ Toes pointed to the Qiblah, heels joined, and feet upright.
❖ Maintain body elevation from ground — do not rest stomach, chest, or arms on thighs.
❖ In necessity, prostration on cloth is permissible.
❀ Description of Sujood in Light of the Sunnah
Sujood is a pillar of Salah in which utmost submission and humility before Allah ﷻ is manifested. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ demonstrated a specific and precise manner of performing Sujood, which is preserved through authentic Ahadith.
① Placing the Hands Before the Knees
It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When one of you prostrates, let him not go down like a camel. Rather, let him place his hands before his knees."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 746; Abū Dāwūd: 840; Aḥmad: 2/381; Dārimī: 1/303; Nasā’ī: 20732; Dāraquṭnī: 1/244; Bayhaqī: 2/100; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 2/249]✔ Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله reconciled this with other narrations and supported this view.
[Bulūgh al-Marām: 331; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/82; Subul al-Salām: 1/316]② Supporting Narration from Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما
Nāfiʿ رحمه الله narrated that Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما would place his hands before his knees, saying that the Prophet ﷺ did the same.
[Ibn Khuzaymah: 628; Dāraquṭnī: 1/344; Bayhaqī: 2/100; Ḥākim: 1/226; Bukhārī (Taʿlīq): 2/298]✔ Those who argue for placing knees before hands rely on a narration from Wāʾil ibn Ḥujr, but:
[Ḍaʿīf: Abū Dāwūd: 838; Tirmidhī: 267; Nasā’ī: 2/234; Ibn Mājah: 882; Dāraquṭnī: 1/345; Ibn Khuzaymah: 626]✔ This narration has been graded weak, and is adopted mainly by the Ḥanafī scholars and the majority (jumhūr) based on preference, not authenticity.
③ Seven Body Parts Must Touch the Ground in Sujood
From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When a servant prostrates, seven bones prostrate with him: the face (including nose), both hands, both knees, and the toes of both feet."
[Muslim: 491; Abū Dāwūd: 891; Nasā’ī: 2/208; Ibn Mājah: 775; Aḥmad: 1/206; Ibn Khuzaymah: 1/6; Ibn Ḥibbān: 1921]✔ Another narration adds:
"I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones..." — and the Prophet ﷺ pointed to his nose along with his forehead.
[Bukhārī: 812, 815; Muslim: 230; Abū Dāwūd: 889; Tirmidhī: 273; Nasā’ī: 2/208; Ibn Mājah: 1040]✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله emphasized the importance of the nose touching the ground, quoting:
"There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not touch the ground as the forehead does."
[Tamām al-Minnah: p. 170]④ Palms on the Ground, Elbows Raised
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When you prostrate, place your palms on the ground and raise your elbows."
[Muslim: 494; Aḥmad: 4/283; Ibn Khuzaymah: 656; Bayhaqī: 2/113]⑤ Heels Should Be Joined in Sujood
[Ḥākim: 1/228; Ibn Khuzaymah: 654]⑥ Toes Pointed Toward the Qiblah and Feet Upright
[Bukhārī: 828; Abū Dāwūd: 732]⑦ Body Elevated: Arms, Thighs, and Abdomen Not Touching
The Prophet ﷺ kept:
✔ Hands away from the sides,
✔ Chest raised from the thighs,
✔ Thighs raised from the legs.
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 670; Abū Dāwūd: 730, 963]⑧ Fingers Should Be Kept Together in Sujood
It is narrated:
"When the Prophet ﷺ prostrated, he would join his fingers."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ḥākim: 1/244]⑨ It Is Permissible to Prostrate on a Garment if Needed
From Anas رضي الله عنه:
"In intense heat, we would lay our garment down and prostrate on it."
[Bukhārī: 385; Muslim: 620; Abū Dāwūd: 660; Tirmidhī: 584; Nasā’ī: 2/216; Ibn Mājah: 1033]❀ Note for Women:
✔ There is no separate method of Sujood for women authentically proven in any Hadith.
✔ The correct method for women is the same as that of men, with modesty and covering observed.
Summary of Rulings:
❖ Place hands before knees while going into Sujood (based on stronger Hadith).
❖ Seven body parts must touch the ground: forehead (and nose), both hands, both knees, both feet.
❖ Keep elbows off the ground, and fingers together.
❖ Toes pointed to the Qiblah, heels joined, and feet upright.
❖ Maintain body elevation from ground — do not rest stomach, chest, or arms on thighs.
❖ In necessity, prostration on cloth is permissible.
