A group of hadith scholars { muhaddithun } recount the...

A group of hadith scholars { muhaddithun } recount the statement of the Prophet (S) in which he defines the earth as the place of his prostration, when he 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.”[^3] From the word “ ja‘ala ” {“made”} which is used here to have a legal and legislative sense, meaning (“ordained”), we understand that this issue is a decree ordained by the Divine for the followers of Islam to abide by.

This proves the legitimacy of prostration on earth, stone, and some other parts of the ground. 2. A group of narrations verify the fact that the Holy Prophet (S) used to order the Muslims to place their forehead on (pure) earth while prostrating.

Umm Salamah, a spouse of the Prophet (S), narrates that the Prophet (S) said: "تراب وجهك لله." “Place your face for the sake of Allah on earth.”[^4] And from the word “ tarrib ” in the statement of the Prophet (S), two points can be inferred; one is that at the time of prostration one should place his forehead on “ turab ”, i.e. dust; and the other is that this act is a binding order because the word “ tarrib ” which comes from “ turab ” meaning “dust” has been expressed in the form of command.

Wa’il ibn Hajar says: "رأيت النبيّ صلى الله عليه وأله وسلم – إذا سجدا وضع جبهته وأنفه على الأرض." “I noticed that whenever the Prophet (S) prostrated, he would place his forehead and nose on the earth.”[^5] Anas ibn Malik, Ibn al-‘Abbas, some spouses of the Prophet (S) such as ‘A’ishah and Umm Salamah and a large group of muhaddithun thus narrate: "كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وأله وسلم يُصلّي على الخمرة." “The Messenger of Allah (S) used to prostrate on khumrah (a mat made from palm fibers).”[^6] Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, a Companion of the Messenger of the Allah (S), says: "دخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وأله وسلم وهو يصلّي على حصير." “Once I came to the Messenger of Allah (S) and saw him praying on a straw mat.”[^7] This statement is another proof which supports the Shi‘ah view that prostration on whatever grows in the earth other than what is eaten or worn is permissible.

4.