Prostration (sujud)

Sujūd (سُجود, or sajdah (سجدة), is an Arabic word meaning prostration to God (الله Allah) in the direction of the Ka'ba at Mecca which is usually done during the daily prayers (salat). While in sujud, a Muslim is to praise and glorify Allah. The position involves having the forehead, nose, both hands, knees and all toes touching the ground together.

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Intention . Shirk . Sunni-Shi'a . Prostration (sujud) . Tawhid

I heard a Shia scholar say that when prostrating at the doorstep of the Prophet (saw), with the intention of piety and love of Allah, this action is not regarded as an act of Shirk. Can you explain the boundaries of Tawheed and Shirk in Shia Islam?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 month ago

Tawheed means not believing nor worshiping but only Allah (SWT). Shirk is believing or worshiping other than Allah with Allah (SWT). We believe that the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt are the most humble servants of Allah.

Prostrating at the doorstep of the Prophet (SAWA) is in fact for thanking Allah for granting us the great bounty of visiting the shrine of the Prophet (SAWA) or his Ahlul Bayt (AS). Thanking Allah in the form of prostrating is a sincere worship to Allah and can never be Shirk. We never believe nor accept any claim suggesting worshiping the Prophet, his Ahlul Bayt or any one but only Allah (SWT). Respecting the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt does not mean worshipping them at all. Respect is completely different from worshiping. Wahhabis mix wrongly between respect and worship. Even we prostrate at the doorstep of the holy shrines, we never do it as a sign of respect but we do it as an act of thanking Allah for His great bounties on us.

Wassalam.

Intention . Shirk . Sunni-Shi'a . Prostration (sujud) . Tawhid

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 month ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Shirk is to limit Allah in any way such that even the conception of another god would be possible. Even to say He is a god is not satisfactory as that would entail a genus of gods under which God would be a species with only one referent. Numerical oneness is limited, as in numbering God as one a person gives the possibility of two gods. Numbers themselves are a factor of the material world. Rather, Allah is above being numbered as a number entails a limit and He is above all limitations.

As for prostration, it is clear that if a person prostrates to a being in worship then that is completely forbidden in Islam and Shiism as a sect within Islam. However, prostration does not only entail this meaning and is also a symbol of humbleness. For this reason God commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam (as), not in worship or out of polytheistic intent. So too Prophet Ya'qub (as) prostrated in front of Prophet Yusuf (as).

May you always be successful

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Prostration (sujud) . Salah (Prayers) . Marble

Is Sajdah in prayers acceptable when done on a marble floor?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 2 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

If it is natural marble, and has not been laminated by plastic or anything else, then it would be permissible to do sajdah on.

And Allah knows best.

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Prostration (sujud)

Is Sajdah on laminated floors acceptable?

Bismihi ta'ala

No, it would not be valid.

And Allah knows best.

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Salah (Prayers) . Mobile application . Prostration (sujud)

Is it allowed for someone who has difficulty with concentrating in prayers to use a mobile app that can count the number of Rakah and Sajdah by placing it near the Sajdagah?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There is no problem in doing that.

May you always be successful

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Prostration (sujud)

Is it permissible to do Sajdah on vertically aligned furniture such as an almirah, wardrobe or showcase?

The level of the item on which Sajda is done should be same level of your standing place with maximum difference of four joined fingers.

'Wassalam.

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God (Allah) . Angels . Prostration (sujud) . Iblis

When Allah asked the angels to prostrate before Adam (AS) then Iblis refused. How did he deny the command directly given by Allah (swt) knowing that Allah (swt) is Almighty and that His punishment will be severe?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 4 months ago

He had the choice to sin or not. Some beings are stubborn and arrogant. We see this with humans as well that they know the truth of Allahs punishment yet still persist in sin knowingly.

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Intention . Prostration (sujud) . Basmalah

Do I need to do Sajda al-Sahw if in the third Rakah I unintentionally said Bismillah when my intention was to do Tasbihat al-Arba'a?

It is not obligatory to perform Sajda al-Sahw for unintentionally saying Bismillah in stead of Tasbeehaat Al-Arba'.

Wassalam.

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Woman . Prostration (sujud) . Salah (Prayers) . Feet

Is it allowed for the bare soles of a female to be visible while in Sajdah during prayers?

Bismihi ta'ala

Hijab for women is the covering of everything, except for the face and hands. As far as when a woman is praying, she must also wear complete hijab, whether she is in public or she is all alone.

However, our esteemed jurists mention that the feet are exempted from being covered while praying. This means that when a woman is praying, it is not wajib for her to wear socks or cover her feet, unless she is in public or there is a non-mahram male who can see her.

And Allah knows best.

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Woman . Prostration (sujud) . Menstruation

Can a woman do Sajdah during her menstrual cycle?

Bismihi ta'ala

Although there are certain things haram for a woman to do while she is in her menstrual cycle, like pray or recite certain parts of the Quran, but it is still permissible, or rather recommended for her to do worship.

It is mustahab at times of salat for her to sit at her prayer mat and do dhikr, or recite dua, etc.

It is also permissible for her to perform sajdah, like sajdah shukr.

And Allah knows best.

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Body . Prostration (sujud)

Which parts of the body should be touching the floor during Sajdah?

Bismihi ta'ala

There are seven obligatory parts that must be touching the ground while in the state of prostration in Salat.

Tip of the toes of both feet, both knees, both palms, and forehead.

It is also mustahab for the nose to be touching earth as well.

And Allah knows best.

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Tashahhud . Prostration (sujud) . Salah (Prayers)

What Zikr do you have to recite when performing Sajda e Sahw? Do you have to recite Tashahhud and Salam after this Sajda?

Bismihi ta'ala

The dhikr that should be recited in sajdatay al-sahw are:

بِسْمِ اللهِ وَ بِاللهِ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ أَيُّـهَا النَّبِيُّ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَ بَـرَکَاتُهُ

bismillāhi wa billāhi, assalāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
In the name of Allah and by Allah. Peace be upon you O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and His blessings (be upon you too).

I also have a tutorial that could be of benefit as well:

And Allah knows best.