Book 4: Prayer

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been commanded to prostrate myself on seven bones: the forehead, the hands, 1 the knees, and the extremities of the feet, 2 and not to fold back the clothing or the hair.” 1. i.e. the palms. 2. i.e. the toes. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Adopt a moderate position when prostrating yourselves, and see that none of you stretches out his forearms [on the ground] like a dog.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported God's Messenger as saying, “When you prostrate yourself, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows.” Muslim transmitted it.

Maimuna said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated himself he kept his arms so far away from his sides that if a lamb had wanted to pass under his arms it could have done so. This is Abu Dawud’s wording, as [Baghawi] explained in Sharh as-sunna with his isnad. Muslim has something to the same effect: She said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated himself, if a lamb had wanted to pass between his arms it could have done so.

‘Abdallah b. Malik Ibn Buhaina* said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated himself he spread out his arms so that the whiteness under his armpits was visible. * Buhaina was ‘Abdallah’s mother. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when prostrating himself, “O God, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.” Muslim transmitted it.

'A’isha said: One night I missed God’s Messenger from the bed, and when I sought him my hand came on the soles of his feet while he was in the act of prostration with them raised, and he was saying, “O God, I seek refuge in Thy good pleasure from Thy anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge in Thee from Thee.* I cannot reckon Thy praise. Thou art as Thou hast lauded Thyself.” * This form of words indicates that God alone can give refuge from His wrath. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication often.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying: When a man recites as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32) the devil retires weeping and saying, “Woe is me! The son of Adam has been commanded to prostrate himself and has done so, and will be rewarded with paradise; but I have been commanded to prostrate myself and have refused, so I will be punished with hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

Rabi'a b. Ka‘b said: I was with God’s Messenger at night, and when I brought him his water for ablution and what he required, he told me to make a request. I said, “I ask to accompany you in paradise.” He asked if I had any other request to make, and when I replied that that was all, he said, “Then help me to accomplish this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ma'dan b. Talha said: I met Thauban the client of God’s Messenger and asked him to tell me something I should do for which God would bring me into paradise. He gave no reply, so I asked him again, and when he still gave no reply I asked him a third time. He then said that he had asked God’s Messenger about that and received the reply, “Make frequent prostration before God, for you will not make one prostration without God raising you a degree because of it and removing a sin from you because of it.” Ma'dan said that he met Abud Darda’ later, and that when he asked him he received a reply similar to that given by Thauban. Muslim transmitted it.