Opinion

The Power of Prostration -Ruth Nasrullah

Published

October 1, 2007

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Probably the most intense component of salat is sajdah. No other position expresses worship and obedience as powerfully as bowing all the way down with your face on the floor. Nearly every sense is involved in worship – your sight, smell, touch and hearing.

I would argue that you can’t help but worship when you’re in sajdah and that you can’t take that position unless you’re willing to worship. It’s compelling.

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Early on during Ramadan, as the shock of the daily fast hit me, I realized how rigorous our deen is. You don’t practice it unless you really mean it. Praying five times a day at specified times is not for the halfhearted. Fasting for an entire month is not for the indifferent. The physicality of Islamic prayer also lends it seriousness. Would you assume the position illustrated above for any man or woman? Or only for the God who created and sustains you and all the universe and who deserves and commands worship?

Last night during taraweeh we reached an ayat requiring sujud:

O you who believe! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good, that you may prosper. (Surah Hajj, verse 77)

As I dropped to my knees, rested my face on the carpet and intoned “subhana rabbiya a’la” I finally began to feel a bit of the thrill my Ramadan has been lacking. Perhaps the thrill is in the feeling of submitting to God and being guided to that feeling through the holy Qur’an. I’m getting there.

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16 Comments

Moiez

October 1, 2007 at 10:42 AM

That’s so weird because this morning I did sajdah, with out prayer just cuz I felt like I needed it. Just do sajdah randomly it feels soo good like you just took a bath or something

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Sis Shaykha

October 1, 2007 at 11:40 AM

Asalamau Alaiakum

I love sujood most in my prayer. Your head dug into the ground, bowing before the Lord of Alaamin. Very humbling. I feel so tranquil, and i just want to stay in sujood…forever sometimes.

It’s even better in the Masjid, when all the Muslimeen bow down together, and you hear nothing but whispers of praise (and sniffling-from crying- once or twice). Very beautiful :D

Alhamdulilah for Salah, Alhamduliah for Islam.

jazaakAllahe Khair for the post Sister

Wa’alaykum Asalaam

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Yus from the Nati

October 1, 2007 at 11:56 AM

Speaking of sujood…could someone at muslimmatters or maybe on this post thing tell us when the first night of the last 10 nights will be in a clear way. Because it gets confusing b/c the ‘day” starts at night…and it gets confusing b/c I think of it as fajr starts the “day” whatever….let us know when the first of the last 10 are insha’Allah.

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Sis Shaykha

October 1, 2007 at 12:08 PM

Asalaamu Alaaikum

Here is a nice article, hope it helps:

Laylutal Qadr-Peace Until Fajr (SunnahOnline)

http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/sunnah/0028.htm

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ibnabeeomar

October 1, 2007 at 12:12 PM

if you started fasting on thursday sept 13, tomorrow night is the 21st night.
tuesday 10/2 = 20th fast
tuesday 10/2 maghrib until wednesday 10/3 fajr = 21st night insha’Allah.

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AnonyMouse

October 1, 2007 at 12:36 PM

Masha’Allah, great post!

My favourite feeling is that which I get when I’m praying alllllll by myself and I’m in sujood, praising Allah and making du’aa to Him… there’s a certain feeling, of trusting and of safety and warm fuzziness inside that makes you never want to get up from that wonderful position!

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Yaser Birjas

October 1, 2007 at 1:11 PM

Sujud is a form of humility in a position of superiority.
You humiliate yourself to whom you love while hoping to gain the power of high standing and self-esteem.
You know while in such position that you’re humbling yourself to Allah and to Him alone. Hence you realize the power of your independence from others by relying completely on Him and making your full dependence on Him alone.
So get the power of You from Him, and put that forehead down to raise your status up.

People often communicate more through e-mail. With Allah, you should communicate through knee-mail.
So get those knees down on the floor and send your messages to Allah in the form of Sujud.

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Yaser Birjas

October 1, 2007 at 1:40 PM

btw, the first night of the last ten is the 21st not the 20th night. It starts at sundown at the end of the 20th day of Ramadan.

According to the caculatiosn above it starts tomorrow, Tuesday night insha’Allah.

May Allah grant you all the blessings of Laylatul Qadr.

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AnonyMouse

October 1, 2007 at 1:48 PM

“People often communicate more through e-mail. With Allah, you should communicate through knee-mail.
So get those knees down on the floor and send your messages to Allah in the form of Sujud.”

I love that!
JazakAllahu khair, yaa Sheikh :)

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ibnabeeomar

October 1, 2007 at 2:14 PM

ah..miscounted :) the comment has been corrected..jazakallahu khayr shaykh yaser

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Amad

October 1, 2007 at 2:16 PM

(kne)E-mail— VERY COOL!

Interestingly, the latest photo in P.S. also deals with prostration… but of a different kind!
http://muslimmatters.org/ps/

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Yus from the Nati

October 1, 2007 at 3:21 PM

@ibnabeeomar + Yaser Birjas

Jazak’Allah Khair!

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Sis Shaykha

October 1, 2007 at 3:24 PM

Lol

Knee-Mail. How clever!

Layultul Qadr-It starts Tuesday, wow that’s like…tomorrow! :D

jazaakAllah Khair

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Bean

October 1, 2007 at 4:23 PM

great question-I used to get so confused about the last ten because of the day starting with maghrib and then different communities starting on different days that I would just pray everynight but it used to bother me not knowing when… I thought I was doing something wrong/bida. May God continue to guide us to the best way.

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Moiez

October 2, 2007 at 9:26 AM

speaking of laylatul qadr here is a gem from Shaikh Muhammad Al Shareef about laylatul qadr

The last ten nights of Ramadan are upon us. And soon after this you the journey for Hajj will begin for Muslims around the world. If you make the same dua, each day, for the last ten nights ofRamadan, it’s guaranteed that you would have made that dua duringLaylatul-Qadr. (A night worth 1000 months of reward in the sightof Allah). ********************************So, prepare your dua from now!******************************** Step 1: Ask yourself, “If Allah said to me, I’ll give youanything you wish, just ask!” What would you ask for? Make alist. (Try to fill 2 pages worth of dua, from the goodness of this life and the next.

Step 2: Pick about 6 of those things

Step 3: Make dua for those 6 things consistently every night forthe last ten nights of Ramadan. Of course, make as much dua as you want, but make sure these 6things are consistent.

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!- Muhammad Alshareef

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AnonyMouse

October 2, 2007 at 12:49 PM

`JazakAllah khair for sharing that with us!
*Whips out a notepad and starts scribbling*

Reply