The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.957- If a person performs sajdah in an unusual manner, e.g., if he lies and places the seven limbs on the ground, his sajdah is void.

Issue No.958- If there is an abscess or wound, etc., on the forehead of a person, making him unable to place his forehead on the turbah, etc., he should place the turbah on the side of the forehead or both sides of his forehead and should increase the height of the turbah from the ground so much that the abscess will be between the two turbahs, provided that its height is not more than four joined fingers. If the sore or wound has covered the entire forehead, one should perform sajdah on either of the head temples; if this is not possible, he should place his chin on the turbah, and if this is not possible either, he should place any part of his face on the turbah, and if this cannot be done, then he should lower his head as much as he can.

Issue No.959- If a person cannot place his forehead on the ground, he should bend as much as possible, and place the turbah or anything on which sajdah is permissible on higher place, so that his forehead can reach it, and place the palms and the knees and the toes on the ground as usual. If he cannot bend at all, he should make an indication with his head, and if that is not possible, he makes an indication with his eyes meaning he should close his eyes with the intention of performing sajdah and should open them with the intention of raising his head from sajdah. In any case, the obligatory precaution is that he should raise the turbah and place it on his forehead. If he is not able to do any of the above-mentioned options, he should, as an obligatory precaution, make an intention for sajdah in his mind.

Issue No.961- At a place where a person has to observe taqīyyah (concealing one’s faith in dangerous situations), he can perform sajdah on a carpet or other similar objects, and it is not necessary for him to go somewhere else to perform sajdah on turbah. In case, however, he can perform sajdah at the same place on a mat, stone or any other thing on which it is permissible to perform sajdah, it is obligatory to do so.

Issue No.962- It is not permissible, as an obligatory precaution, to perform sajdah on an object on which the body does not stay still. However, as we have mentioned earlier, if one can perform the obligatory parts of the prayer in a moving ship or train, etc., his prayer is correct. There is no harm in performing sajdah on a mattress or similar things where the body is not still at first but becomes so later.

Issue No.963- If the ground on which a person wants to perform sajdah is muddy and his body and his clothes will become dirty if he performs sajdah, he can perform his prayer in a standing posture and indicate for sajdah with his head.

Issue No.966- The obligatory precaution is that sajdah should not be performed on the leaves of grapevine, which some people use in food.

Issue No.967- It is permissible to perform sajdah on grass, hay, etc., which grow from earth and are served as fodder for animals, and also on flowers which are not edible by human beings. However, sajdah on flowers and herbs, which are medicinal, such as violet flowers and borage is not permissible, as an obligatory precaution. The same rule also applies to flowers that are edible in some cities, but are not edible in other cities.

Issue No.970- Earth, especially the one taken from the land of Karbala, [which reminds us of the blood of the martyrs of Karbala], is the best thing for performing sajdah on.

Issue No.971- If a person does not possess anything on which it is allowed to perform sajdah, or even if he possesses such a thing, but cannot perform sajdah on it due to severe heat or cold, he should perform sajdah on his clothes if made of linen or cotton. If his clothes are made of other fabrics, e.g., wool, he should perform sajdah on them or on the carpet, and in case this is not possible, he can perform sajdah on metals or mineral materials. If however, he cannot find anything at all on which to perform sajdah, he may perform sajdah on the back of his hand. Therefore, the back of one’s hand should be regarded as the last thing on which he may perform sajdah.

Issue No.973- If while offering prayer, oneloses the object on which he is performing sajdah (e.g., a child takes it away), if there is time remaining, he should finish the prayer and offer it again, as an obligatory precaution, but if the time for prayer is short, then it is not necessary to offer it again. In either of the two cases, he should act according to issue no. 971.

Issue No.977- Certain acts are mustaḥab in sajdah and one can perform them with the hope of gaining divine reward:1- It is mustaḥab to say takbīr after one raises his head from rukū‘, while the body is still, before going into sajdah and after the first sajdah before going into the second one. 2- While going into sajdah, a man should first place his hands on the ground, and a woman should first place her knees on the ground.3- In addition to the forehead, the person offering prayer should place his nose on an object on which sajdah is allowed.4- While performing sajdah, fingers should be joined, parallel to the ears, with their tips towards the qiblah.5- While in sajdah one should pray, and ask his requests from Allah. One of the good supplications is this one:" يا خَيْرَ الْمَسْؤولينَ وَ اَوْسَعَ الْمُعْطينَ اُرْزُقْنِى وَ ارْزُقْ عِيالى مِنْ فَضْلِکَ فَإنَّکَ ذُوالْفَضْلِ الْعَظيمِ "(O You Who are the best from whom people seek their needs, and O You Who are the most bountiful and generous! Give me and my family sustenance with Your Grace. Undoubtedly, you possess the greatest grace).6- After performing sajdah, one should sit on his left thigh, placing the instep of the right foot on the sole of the left foot (what is called in Arabic “tawarruk”).7- When his body is still after the first sajdah, he should say: “اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ”8- One should prolong the sajdah [while performing sajdah], say words of praise, glorify Allah (swt) and recite dhikr and Salawat.9- When sitting after the sajdah, one should place the hands on the thighs.10- At the time of rising, one should first raise his knees from the ground, and then his hands.