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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shia Rebuts Question 19: Why do the Shi‘ah prostrate on turbah {dried clay}? Reply: Some think that prostration on the earth or turbah taken from the burial site of martyrs is tantamount to worshipping it and consider it a form of polytheism { shirk }. In reply to this question, it must be noted that there is a great difference between the phrase, “ as-sujud lillah ” {prostration for Allah}, and “ as-sujud ‘ala’l-ard ” {prostration on earth}.

The problem of the mentioned people is that they fail to distinguish between the meanings of the two phrases. It is clear that the meaning of “ as-sujud lillah ” is “prostration for the sake of Allah” while “ as-sujud ‘ala’l-ard ” means “prostration on the earth”. In other words, by prostrating on earth we prostrate for the sake of God, and in principle, all Muslims of the world prostrate on something for the sake of God.

All pilgrims to the House of God prostrate on the stones of Masjid al-Haram in the same way but their aim is prostrating for the sake of God. Given this, it becomes clear that prostration on earth, plant byproduct, etc. does not mean worshipping them but it means prostrating for the sake of God and worshipping Him by lowering oneself and getting close to earth. Similarly, it becomes clear that prostration on turbah is different from prostration for turbah .

On one hand, the Holy Qur’an states: "ولله يسجد من في السموات والأرض." “To Allah prostrates whoever there is in the heavens and the earth.” [^1] Also, the Holy Prophet (S) says: ”جُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ مَسْجِداً وَ طَهُوْراً.“ “The (pure) earth has been made for me as a place of prostration and an agent of purification.” Therefore, “prostration for God” and “prostration on earth or turbah ” are not only far from being inconsistent but they agree with each other completely.

This is because prostration on earth or plant byproduct represents the highest form of meekness and humbleness before the One and Only God. In order to clarify the Shi‘ah view, it is worth pointing to part of a speech by our great leader—Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ): عن هشام ابن الحكم قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله: أخبرني عما يجوز السجود عليه وعمّا لا يجوز؟ قال: السجود لا يجوز إلا على الأرض أو ما أنبتت الأرض إلا ما أكل أو لبس.

فقلت له جعلت فداك ما العلّة في ذلك؟ قال لأن السجود هو الخضوع لله عز وجلّ فلا ينبغي أن يكون على ما يؤكل و يلبس لأن أبناء الدنيا عبيد ما يأكلون ويلبسون.