Why
prostration in prayer must be done on earth
More
Proofs From Sunni Sources
Abu Said Al Khudri narrates:
The Messenger of
Allah used to practice Itikaf (in the mosque), in the middle third of
Ramadan. After the twentieth night, he used to return home on the
twenty-first, and those who were in Itikaf with him would return to
their homes as well. In Ramadan, in which he practiced Itikaf, he would
pray the night prayers on the night in which he returned home, and then
address the people, instructing them as Allah commanded him. He said, "I
used to practice Itikaf for these ten days (i.e. the middle third of
Ramadan), but I now intend to stay in Itikaf for the last ten days.
Whoever was in Itikaf with me should stay at his place of seclusion. I
have certainly been shown (the date of) this Night (of Qadr), but I have
forgotten it. Search for it in the odd nights of the last ten days (of
Ramadan). I also saw myself (in a dream) prostrating in mud
and water." On the twenty-first night, the sky was covered
with clouds and it rained, and the rainwater started leaking through the
roof of the mosque onto the praying place of the Prophet. With my own
eyes, I saw the Prophet, upon completion of the morning prayer, leaving
(the mosque) with his face covered with mud and water.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.235
Abu Hazim narrates:
Sahl bin Sa'd
was asked about the (Prophet's) pulpit, as to what was it made of. Sahl
replied: No one is still alive among the people who knows about it
better than I. It was made of tamarisk forest wood. So and so, the slave
of so and so, prepared it for the Messenger of Allah. When it was
constructed and placed (in the mosque), the Messenger of Allah stood on
it, facing the Qibla, and said, "Allahu Akbar", and the people stood
behind him (in prayer). He recited and bowed, and the people behind him
bowed. Then he raised his head, stepped back, descended and
prostrated on the ground. He then again ascended the
pulpit, recited, bowed, raised his head, stepped back, descended and
prostrated on the ground. This is what I know about
the pulpit.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.374
Hazrat Maimuna said:
The Messenger of
Allah used to pray on a Khumra (a palm leaf mat
large enough to place one's face, while in prostration).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.378
Jabir bin Abdullah narrates:
The Messenger of
Allah said: I have been given five things which were not given to any
of the Prophets before me. These are:
1. Allah
made me victorious by inspiring awe (and fear in my enemies) for a
distance of one month's journey.
2.
The earth has been made a place of prostration
for me, and a place to perform Tayammum. Thus, my followers can pray
wherever (i.e. in any lawful place) they like, when the time of
prayer is due.
3. War booty
has been made lawful for me.
4. Every
Prophet was sent only to his own nation, but I have been sent to all
mankind.
5. I have
been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.429
Abu Sa'eed used
to relate that he had seen the Prophet prostrating on wet
mud, so much so that he could see mud stains on
his forehead.
Saheeh Bukhari, Part
I, p. 104
Hazrat Maimuna
said:
The Messenger of
Allah was once praying while I was experiencing my menses and sitting
beside him. Sometimes his clothing would touch me during his
prostration. She added: He prayed on a Khumra (a
small palm leaf mat).
Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 376
The Prophet used
to place his forehead on the earth while prostrating.
Saheeh Bukhari, Part 1, p. 97
The Prophet
declared that the best place for prostration was the earth,
or upon something that grows from the earth.
Kanz-ul-Ummal, Part 4., p. 113
(Famous Sunni book
of Hadith)
The Prophet said
to his wife Umm Salma, " Bring me the Khumra from the mosque."
The word Khumra means a small piece of chatai made from palm
leaf, on which only the head could be rested when prostrating. lbn-Athir,
in his Jami-al-Usool has written, "Khumra is the Sajdagah (Persian word
meaning "prostration place") upon which the Shias of our time
perform their prostrations."
I (i.e. Maulana
Zamankhan) maintain that by this Hadith it is Sunnat to keep a Sajdagah.
Those who forbid it and call it the way of the Rafizites (Shiites) are
wrong. To practice this Sunnat, I often perform my prostrations on a fan
made from palm leaf, and I do not care about the criticism of the
ignorant. We are concerned only with the Sunnat of the Prophet (SAA),
regardless of whether they call it the way of the Rafizites or the
Kharijites. Let them rave about it.
Maulana Vahidul Zamankhan (Sunni Alim),
author of 'Anwar-ul-Lughat', Chap. 7, p.
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