It was so hot that I took a handful of sands to cool it and...

It was so hot that I took a handful of sands to cool it and use it for prostration.[^10] Bayhaqi has narrated this tradition in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra with a little difference.

He also narrates the same tradition from Anas Ibn Malik in another way commenting, “If prostration on a cloth one is wearing was permissible, it would for sure be easier than cooling hot sand in one’s hand and putting it for prostration.”[^11] Bayhaqi has hence considered this tradition as the proof on the impermissibility of prostrating on a cloth attached to the body.

Though Bayhaqi’s claim is true, it should be added that if prostration on cloth—either attached or unattached to the body—was permissible, it would be no need for cooling the sands, because as prostration on an attached cloth is easy, it is also easy on an unattached cloth, a piece of cloth or even a coin in one’s pocket.

So, the tradition can also act as a proof on the impermissibility of prostration on unattached as well as attached cloth.[^12] The reason is that Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari narrates the tradition with past continuous verb, adding كنت to the present tense verb, which shows that this has not occurred just once. Nevertheless, this tradition shows that prostration is not permissible on everything, otherwise constant attempting to prostrate on sands was not wise.

… شَكَونا إلى رَسولِ اللهِ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّم شِدَّةَ الرَّمْضاءِ في جِباهِنا وأكَفِّنا فَلَم يُشكِنا. We complained to the Prophet (a.s) about the hotness of sands to our faces and palms when praying, but he did not pay attention.[^13] Having narrated the same tradition, Ibn Hajar Asqalani says, “This is a true tradition narrated by Muslim.”[^14] It is emphasized in Tuhfat Al-Muhtaj that the document of Bayhaqi is valid.[^15] It is also said in Subul Al-Salam that the tradition is true.

^16 The same is narrated from Ibn Mas’ud.[^17] This tradition clearly proves that prostration is not allowed on everything, otherwise complaining about the hotness of the sands was unnecessary and they could prostrate themselves on things other than the hot sands.[^18] … وإذا سَجَدْتَ فَأمْكِن جَبْهَتَكَ مِن الأرْضِ حَتىّ تَجِدَ حَجْمَ الأرْضِ. A man asked the Prophet (a.s) something about prayer.

The Messenger of Allah (a.s) told him: “… and when you prostrate, place your forehead on the earth, in a way that you can feel it.[^19] … إنّ النّبيّ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّم كَانَ إذا سَجَدَ أمْكَنَ أنْفَهُ وَجَبْهَتَهُ مِنَ الأرْضِ.

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