One such tradition was narrated from Umm Salamah (the...

One such tradition was narrated from Umm Salamah (the Prophet's wife) who narrated that the Holy prophet said: "Put you face-for the sake of Allah-on earth." The phrase 'Tarrib' i.e., put your face upon the sand' in the Prophet's narration clarifies two points, one being that the person while prostrating should put his forehead on sand and the other point is that such an action must be performed because of the divine commandment form the Lord.

The Holy prophet's behavior in this regard is a clear evidence and a universal guide for all the Muslims.

Wael Hijr said: "I saw the prophet (p) while prostrating, would put his forehead and nose on the earth." Anas bin Malik, Ibn Abbas and some of the wives of the prophet such as Ayesha', Umm Salamah among other narrators relate that: "The Holy Prophet used to prostrate on 'Al-Khorma' which is kind of reed mat made from palm tree fibres." Abu-Saeed, one of the companions of the prophet said: "As I entered to visit the messenger of Allah, I saw that He was praying on a reed mat." This narration is a clear evidence of the Shia's point of view based on the permissibility of prostration on plants growing from the earth that is not worn or eaten.

The Speech and behavior of the companions is also an expression of the Holy Prophet's practice. Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari narrates: "I was praying the noon prayer with the Prophet (p) and so I would take a handful of small blocks of stones and keep them in my hand until they cooled down so that I can put my forehead upon them due to the excessive heat." Then the narrator continues: "If prostration on our clothes was permissible, then it would have been easier than taking the stones and cooling them down for prostration." Ibn Sa'ad (died 209) in his book, 'Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra' writes the following: "Masruq bin Ajda when traveling, used to take along with him a brick so that he can prostrate upon it in the ship." It is necessary to mention at this point, that Masruq bin Ajda was one of the successors of the prophet's companions and also a companion of Ibn Masood, who is the writer of the book 'Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra' is mentioned to be among the best group of persons of Kufa after the holy prophet, and of the ones who narrated from Abu-bakr, Omar, uthman, Ali and Abdullah bin Masood.