Prostrating all Seven Parts of the Body

What if all seven parts of the body did not touch the ground during
prostration?

Sujood is a rukn (pillar) of the prayer, meaning that if a
capable person does not perform it, whether he left it intentionally or
unintentionally the prayer would be invalid. If he did not perform a
pillar unintentionally (out of forgetfulness for example), then he
returns back to that position when he remembers and repeats what came
after it in the prayer, completing it fully, and then adds two sajdahs
at the end called sajdatay as-sahw, prostrations made due to
forgetfulness.




Question:

As-salamu Alaikum

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

It is not permissible for a worshipper to lift up any of these seven
parts of the body when prostrating, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I have been commanded to
prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead, and he pointed to his nose,
and on the two hands, the two knees and the edges of the two feet (i.e.,
the toes). Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 812; Muslim, 490. If he
lifts up one or both of his feet, or one or both of his hands, or his
forehead or nose, or both of them, then his prostration is invalid and
does not count, and if his prostration is invalid then his prayer is
also invalid. Liqaa'aat al-Baab al-Maftooh by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen,
2/99

Does anyone know whether your prayer will be invalid, if you lift
one of these limbs up out forgetfullness and not deliberatly, are their
any fatawa on this? And do you stop the Prayer when you lift any of
them up and start all over again (both praying alone &
congregation).

Can someone clarify this, this issue has left me confused.
Jazakallahu Khair

Answer:

Wa 'alaykumus-salaamu wa rahmatullaah

Sujood is a rukn (pillar) of the prayer, meaning that if a
capable person does not perform it, whether he left it intentionally or
unintentionally the prayer would be invalid. If he did not perform a
pillar unintentionally (out of forgetfulness for example), then he
returns back to that position when he remembers and repeats what came
after it in the prayer, completing it fully, and then adds two sajdahs
at the end called sajdatay as-sahw, prostrations made due to
forgetfulness.

This includes if a rukn (pillar) was not performed in a valid way, like
in the example mentioned, when a capable person makes sajdah on some but
not all of the seven body parts.

I don't really understand how someone in reality would just "forget" to
put their feet on the ground, leaving them hiked up in the air (?!), or
"forget" to put his hands down, perhaps leaving them in his pockets
(?!), or forget to put his face down... since the sajdah is such a
comfortable and natural position... Anyway, if he did forget to do any
of those, then he is like the one who forgot to make the sajdah in the
first place.



That is because the sajdah which is a pillar itself is made
up of seven necessary elements:

1) the face with both of the following on the floor:
a) forehead
b) nose

2/3) the two hands

4/5) the two knees

6/7) the two feet, the edges of the toes

that is based on the hadeeth mentioned.

And the hadeeth that proves that any missing action mentioned above
would render the sajdah invalid is the hadeeth narrated by Ibn 'Abbas
(may Allaah be pleased with him):

لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لاَ يُصِيبُ أَنْفُهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ مَا يُصِيبُ
الْجَبِينُ
"There is no prayer for someone whose nose does touch the floor as much
as his forehead."

Al-Albaanee said that it was collected by Ad-Daaraqutnee, al-Bayhaqee,
and al-Haakim, who called it saheeh according to al-Bukhaaree's
conditions and Ath-Thahabee approved of that verdict.

And in one wording collected by at-Tabaraanee (used as support for the
authenticity of the above narration):

مَنْ لَمْ يُلْزِقْ أَنْفَهُ مَعَ جَبْهَتِهِ بِالأَرْضِ إِذَا سَجَدَ لَمْ
تُجْزِ صَلاَتُهُ
"The prayer of the one who does not place his nose along with his
forehead to the ground when he prostrates is invalid."

These narrations show the importance of the two parts of only one pillar
of sujood being fulfilled properly, and that if one of the two is
missing or deficient, then the prayer is invalid.

Al-Albaanee says in conclusion, "This is an explicit text that
shows that when the nose is not touching the floor the prayer is
invalid."
Refer to: Aslu Sifatis-Salaatin-Nabee (2/733-735) sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam

Knowing this issue is of the highest level of importance, since it is
related to the basic elements of a pillar of our religion, may Allaah
bless us all with understanding of His Religion.

I hope this helps make the issue clear, and Allaah knows best.


By Abul-'Abbaas Moosaa Richardson