What to do and not to do Sajdah Upon

السلام عليكم

I have seen a lot of questions from our Shee`ahs regarding why we do sajdah upon the specific things we do sajdah on. Unfortunately, instead of quoting from our Shee`ah books, on why we do Sajdah upon certain things, they take out Al-Bukhaaree, to prove their point, even when they are speaking to their own Shee`ahs.

Here are various aHaadeeth and classical scholarly opinion on what you can and cannot do sajdah upon.

وَ رَوَى حَمَّادُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ السُّجُودُ عَلَى مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا أُكِلَ أَوْ لُبِسَ

”He (عليه السلام) said: Sajdah is upon what grows (from) the earth except what (can be) eaten or worn”

Source:

1.       Al-Sadooq, Man Laa YaHDuruh Al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, pg. 268, hadeeth # 830

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisi I (Al-Majlisi’s Father) said this hadeeth has a SaHeeH Sanad
à Lawaama` SaaHibaqaraanee, vol. 3, pg. 443

…قَالَ السُّجُودُ لَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ عَلَى مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا أُكِلَ أَوْ لُبِسَ…

“He (عليه السلام) said: Sajdah is not allowed except upon the earth or what grows (from) the earth, except what (can be) eaten or worn”

Source:

1.       Al-Sadooq, Man Laa YaHDuruh Al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, pg. 272, hadeeth # 843

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisi I (Al-Majlisi’s Father) said this hadeeth is SaHeeH
à RawDah Al-Muttaqqeen, vol. 2, pg. 190

وَ رَوَى حَمَّادُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ السُّجُودُ عَلَى مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا أُكِلَ أَوْ لُبِسَ

He (عليه السلام) said: “Sajdah is upon what grows (from) the earth except what (can be) eaten or worn”

Source:

1.     Al-Toosi, Tahdheeb Al-aHkaam, vol. 2, pg. 234, hadeeth # 132

Grading:

1.       Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH (Authentic)
à Milaadh Al-Akhyaar, vol. 4, pg. 256

…قَالَ السُّجُودُ لَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ عَلَى مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا أُكِلَ أَوْ لُبِسَ…

He (عليه السلام) said: “Sajdah is not allowed except upon the earth or upon what grows (from) the earth except what (can be) eaten or worn”

Source:

1.     Al-Toosi, Tahdheeb Al-aHkaam, vol. 2, pg. 234 - 235, hadeeth # 133

Grading:

1.       Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH (Authentic)
à Milaadh Al-Akhyaar, vol. 4, pg. 256

Here are classical scholarly opinion regarding what you can and cannot prostrate on.

قال الصادق عليه السلام: اسجدوا على الأرض أو (على ما أنبتت) الأرض، إلا ما أكل أو لبس

Al-Saadiq (عليه السلام) said: “(Do!) Sajdah upon the earth [or what grows (from)] the earth, except what (can be) eaten or worn”

Source:

1.     Al-Sadooq & Al-Sadooq’s Father, Al-Hidaayah fee Al-Usool wa Al-Furoo`, vol. 1, pg. 140

أسجد على الأرض، أو على ما أنبتت الأرض، إلا ما أكل أو لبس

”Sajdah upon the earth, or upon what the earth grows, except what (can be) eaten or worn”

Source:

1.       Al-Sadooq, Al-Muqni`, pg. 85

و لا يجوز السّجود إلّا على الأرض أو ما أنبتته الأرض، إلّا ما أكل أو لبس، و لا يجوز السّجود على القبر

“And sajdah is not allowed except upon the earth or what grows (from) the earth, except what (can be) eaten or worn, and sajdah is not allowed upon the grave”

Source:

1.       Al-Toosi, Al-Nihaayah fee Mujarrid Al-Fiqh wa Al-Fataawa, pg. 101

السجود يجب أن يكون على الأرض الطاهرة، و على ما أنبتت الأرض الا ما أكل، أو لبس

“Sajdah must be upon pure earth, and upon what grows (from) the earth, except what (can be) eaten, or worn”

Source:

1.       Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Hillee (d. 676 AH), Al-Mu`tabar fee SharH Al-MukhtaSir, vol. 2, pg. 119

Now, you are probably wondering, how come we can’t do it on our muSallah (prayer rug) or the carpet, since it is made from the earth (i.e. cotton, linen, fabric, etc). Here is the reason why we do not do sajdah upon those things.  

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَسْجُدُ عَلَى الزِّفْتِ يَعْنِي الْقِيرَ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَا عَلَى الثَّوْبِ الْكُرْسُفِ وَ لَا عَلَى الصُّوفِ وَ لَا عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْحَيَوَانِ وَ لَا عَلَى طَعَامٍ وَ لَا عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ ثِمَارِ الْأَرْضِ وَ لَا عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الرِّيَاشِ‏

“I (asked) Aboo Ja`far (عليه السلام), ‘Can I (do) sajdah on asphalt meaning tar (i.e. cement)?’ He (عليه السلام) said: ‘No, and not upon cotton clothing, and not upon wool, and not upon anything from animals and not upon food and not upon fruits from the earth, and not upon things from feathers’”

Source:

1.     Al-Kulayni, Al-Kaafi, vol. 3, pg. 330, hadeeth # 2

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is Hasan Kal-SaHeeH (Hasan like a SaHeeH (hadeeth))
à Mir’aat Al-`Uqool, vol. 15, pg. 144

وَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يُسْجَدُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا الْقُطْنَ وَ الْكَتَّانَ

Aboo `Abd Allaah (عليه السلام) said: “No Sajdah except upon the earth or what grows (from) the earth except cotton and linens”

Source:

1.     Al-Kulayni, Al-Kaafi, vol. 3, pg. 330, hadeeth # 1

2.       Al-Toosi, Tahdheeb Al-aHkaam, vol. 2, ch. 15, pg. 303, hadeeth # 81

3.       Al-`Aamilee, Wasaa’il Al-Shee`ah, vol. 5, pg. 344 - 345, hadeeth # 6745

وَ فِي الْخِصَالِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع فِي حَدِيثِ شَرَائِعِ الدِّينِ قَالَ لَا يُسْجَدُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا الْمَأْكُولَ وَ الْقُطْنَ وَ الْكَتَّانَ

He (عليه السلام) said: “No sajdah except upon the earth or what grows (from) the earth except what is eaten, cotton, and linen”

Source:

1.     Al-Sadooq, Al-KhiSaal, vol. 2, pg. 603, hadeeth # 9

2.       Al-`Aamilee, Wasaa’il Al-Shee`ah, vol. 5, pg. 344, hadeeth # 6742

Now, here is a Hadeeth that shows the Hikmah (wisdom) and reason to “Why” we do sajdah on the things that are mentioned and not on other things. The Imaam (عليه السلام) has explained it beautifully.

قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا يَجُوزُ السُّجُودُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَمَّا لَا يَجُوزُ قَالَ السُّجُودُ لَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ عَلَى مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا أُكِلَ أَوْ لُبِسَ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا الْعِلَّةُ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ لِأَنَّ السُّجُودَ خُضُوعٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى مَا يُؤْكَلُ أَوْ يُلْبَسُ لِأَنَّ أَبْنَاءَ الدُّنْيَا عَبِيدُ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ وَ يَلْبَسُونَ وَ السَّاجِدُ فِي سُجُودِهِ فِي عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَضَعَ جَبْهَتَهُ فِي سُجُودِهِ عَلَى مَعْبُودِ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا الَّذِينَ اغْتَرُّوا بِغُرُورِهَا وَ السُّجُودُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَفْضَلُ لِأَنَّهُ أَبْلَغُ فِي التَّوَاضُعِ وَ الْخُضُوعِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

Inform me of what it is permitted to do sujood upon and what is not permitted. He said: Sujood is not allowed except for upon the earth or what the earth grows except that which is eaten or worn. So he said to him: May I be your sacrifice, what is the reason for that? He (عليه السلام) said: It is because sujood is submission to Allah, (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ), so it is not appropriate that it be upon what it eaten and worn. For the sons of the dunyaa (world) are worshipers of what they wear and eat. And the prostrator in his sujood is in the worship of Allah, (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ), so it is not appropriate that he place his forehead in his sujood upon that which is worshiped by the sons of the dunyaa (world), having been deceived by its deception. And sujood upon the earth is better for it is more (conducive) to attaining humility and submission to Allah, (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ).

Source:

1.       Al-Sadooq, Man Laa YaHDuruh Al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, pg. 272, hadeeth # 843

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisi I (Al-Majlisi’s Father) said this hadeeth is SaHeeH
à RawDah Al-Muttaqqeen, vol. 2, pg. 190

السلام عليكم