It is as if it wants to say: “O man before whom all the angels prostrated!

It is as if it wants to say: “O man before whom all the angels prostrated! Why do you not prostrate before God, the Creator? O man! Iblis was expelled for refusing to prostrate before you. Once you refuse to prostrate before God, what can you expect? “Iblis did not prostrate before you. He was saying: ‘I am superior to man.’ Can you afford to say: ‘I am superior to God’?

You—who were once non-existent and once you came into the world, weakness and impotence enveloped your entire being, and in the end you shall also humbly depart from this world—how could you dare to be proud in front of the Creator of the universe? At any rate, the first commandment of God after the creation of man was the command of prostration. The importance of sujud • Sujud is the best position of man in the presence of God.

●Sujud is the best way to attain nearness to God: “But prostrate and draw near {to Allah}!” [^16] • A sign of the loyal of the Prophet (S) was that the effect of prostration could be seen on their foreheads: “Their mark is {visible} on their faces, from the effect of prostration.” [^17] • Sujud makes man harmonious and concordant with all of creation.

This is because all creatures in heaven and on earth—from the stars to the plants—prostrate and are humble before God: “To Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth ,” [^18] and “And the herb and the tree prostrate {to Allah}.” [^19] • Sujud means harmony with the angels of God.

Hadrat ‘Ali ( ‘a ) says: “There is no layer of the heavens without having therein a group of angels in the state of sujud .”[^20] • Sujud is the highest degree of obedience and servitude because man places on the earth the loftiest part of his body, i.e. his forehead, and expresses humility and impotence in the presence of the Omnipotent Authority. • Sujud is the most sublime station for the noblest men and women of the world.

God commanded His Prophet (S) to prostrate, and that was not only during daytime but also during the night: “And worship Him for a watch of the night and glorify Him the night long.” [^21] And in addressing Hadrat Maryam (Saint Mary)—that pure and devoted woman—He says: “O Mary, be obedient to your Lord, and prostrate.” [^22] • Sujud comes after the ruku‘ . It is a more perfect and higher stage than ruku‘ , and brings the person praying to the peak of humility.

As such, ruku‘ and sujud are usually mentioned together in the Qur’an. For example, “O you who have faith!

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