The Reason for the Prohibition of Prostration on Food, Clothing, and Other Materials Except for Earth and What it Grows
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 42
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Book 1, Chapter 42
The Reason for the Prohibition of Prostration on Food, Clothing, and Other Materials Except for Earth and What it Grows
1 hadith
قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ اَلْحَكَمِ، لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا يَجُوزُ اَلسُّجُودُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَمَّا لاَ يَجُوزُ قَالَ «اَلسُّجُودُ لاَ يَجُوزُ إِلاَّ عَلَى اَلْأَرْضِ أَوْ عَلَى مَا أَنْبَتَتِ اَلْأَرْضُ إِلاَّ مَا أُكِلَ أَوْ لُبِسَ» فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا اَلْعِلَّةُ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ «لِأَنَّ اَلسُّجُودَ خُضُوعٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلاَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى مَا يُؤْكَلُ أَوْ يُلْبَسُ لِأَنَّ أَبْنَاءَ اَلدُّنْيَا عَبِيدُ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ وَ يَلْبَسُونَ وَ اَلسَّاجِدُ فِي سُجُودِهِ فِي عِبَادَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلاَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَضَعَ جَبْهَتَهُ فِي سُجُودِهِ عَلَى مَعْبُودِ أَبْنَاءِ اَلدُّنْيَا اَلَّذِينَ اِغْتَرُّوا بِغُرُورِهَا وَ اَلسُّجُودُ عَلَى اَلْأَرْضِ أَفْضَلُ لِأَنَّهُ أَبْلَغُ فِي اَلتَّوَاضُعِ وَ اَلْخُضُوعِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.
Hisham ibn al-Hakam said to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام: "Tell me about what is permissible to prostrate on and what is not." Imam عليه السلام replied: "Prostration is only permissible on the earth or what grows from the earth, except for what is eaten or worn." Hisham then asked: "May I be your ransom, what is the reason for that?" The Imam said: "Prostration is an act of humility before Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, and it should not be on what is eaten or worn because the people of the world are slaves to what they eat and wear. The one who prostrates in worship of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, should not place his forehead on what is worshipped by the people of the world who are deceived by its allure. Prostration on the earth is superior because it is more effective in demonstrating humility and submission to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh