Prostration – The Ultimate Position of Humility
Sajdah or sujood in Arabic refers to prostration. Prostrating is something that happens in different cultures and religions. However as Muslims, we prostrate in an absolutely exclusive way.
First of all, we prostrate to Allah only and nothing and no one else!
Secondly, the position of sajdah in which our forehead touches the earth is exclusively associated with the Muslim form of prayer. It’s the climax of our prayer.
Ibn Al-Qayyim described the sujood as the secret of prayer, the greatest pillar and the seal of the rukoo’. He said all the other actions we did before it were just preludes.
The Prophet said:
The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state). (Al-Bukhari)
SubhanAllah, when we’re in the lowest position, we’re closest to the One Who is highest! Allahu Akbar!
Benefiting From Sujood
Now the question is this: Do you benefit from your sujood?
Each and every sajdah is a treasure trove.
Ibn Taymiyyah said that the souls of people are brought closer to Allah during prostration. It’s the time to make dua and ask Allah for everything you want.
The Virtues of Sujood
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
My ummah on that day will surely have bright faces because of sujood, and bright arms and feet because of ablution. (Ahmad)
The sajdah is so important that Satan hates us for it. It was narrated that when one of us recites a verse of Sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, Satan goes into seclusion and cries and says:
Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell. (Muslim)
Don’t you want to be of the saajideen (the ones who prostrate)?
Physical Effects: Sujood is Good For the Brain!
Being close to your Lord is the most beautiful virtue of sajdah. But did you know doing sujood also has an amazing impact on your body?
When you go into the position of prostration, your whole body is in an active motion. When you rest your forehead on the ground while your hands are placed at the sides, it gives most of the body muscles exercise. Your hands are then stretched out in a way that the forearm and arm muscles bear the weight.
Sajdah is unique position because your brain (or head) becomes lower than the heart, so the blood gushes towards the brain. The brain receives more nourishment, which has a good effect upon memory, vision, hearing, concentration, psyche, and all other cognitive abilities.
Your neck muscles become stronger because they have to bear the load when the forehead touches the ground; hence, the neck muscles become stronger and it’s less likely you get common neck pains. The same goes for your back. While going into sajdah and getting up from it the back muscles contract actively and become stronger.
Keep in mind that sujood is not meant to be an exercise; however there are a lot of medical advantages associated with it. Still, the best blessing is the peace of mind you get, knowing you’re close to your Most Beloved!
The Prostration of the Sun
In the verse we read that whatever is in the heavens and the earth prostrates to Allah the Almighty. The sun, moon, stars, trees, and animals all prostrate to Him.
Ibn Taymiyyah said that the prostration of these created beings does not mean that they put their foreheads on the ground. So we as human beings prostrate in the manner that suits us, in the manner that is well known, on seven parts of the body.
The sun prostrates in the manner that suits it. Abu Dharr narrated:
“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said when the sun had set:
Do you know where it went?
I said:
“Allah and His Messenger know best.”
He said:
It has gone to prostrate beneath the Throne, then it asks for permission to rise, but soon it will prostrate and its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask for permission to rise and that will not be granted to it, and it will be said to it, “Go back from where you came,” and it will rise from the west. This is what Allah says: {And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.} (Quran 36:38) (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 3199)
Quantity versus Quality
So now we know we should take each chance we have to go into sujood. But what about the quality of our prostrations? What do we feel when we go into sujood?
12 Ways to Prostrate With Your Heart
Don’t lift your head off the floor until you get at least one Subhana Rabbiyal A’la that comes from the heart, mind, tongue, and limbs.
Zoom out; picture yourself like there’s a camera over you that goes up and up and up and help yourself with feeling and becoming small in front of Allah Almighty.
Ask for at least three things you want in each sajdah.
If Satan comes to you telling you that you’re showing off if you make a long sujood, make it even longer!
Eliminate the thought of time from your mind.
Picture yourself making sujood in Makkah, or imagine every single believer making sujood on the Last Day.
Realize that Allah the Almighty has the complete power and right to destroy you right then and there for the millions of times you’ve slipped, made mistakes, etc.
Put yourself in the shoes of a Muslim prisoner. Picture yourself doing sujood in a small, dirty cell with four walls closing in on you.
Do sujood in random places and vary as much as you can, as every piece of ground you’ve prostrated on will testify for you on the Day of Judgment!
If you can’t shed at least one tear in sujood or during prayer, then remember the sunnah of Umar when he would pretend to cry if he couldn’t.
Imagine the Prophet (peace be upon him) making sujood.
Do sujood al-shukr (the prostration of thankfulness). The Prophet prostrated frequently in response to a calamity or a blessing that came to him! Revive this forgotten sunnah in your daily life!
Let’s End With a Beautiful Incident From the Seerah
Rabi’a ibn Ka’b, a companion of the Prophet said:
“I was with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) one night and I brought him water and what he required. He said to me:
Ask [anything you like].
I said:
“I ask your company in Paradise.”
He said:
Anything else besides it?
I said:
“That is all (that I require).”
He said:
Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration. (Muslim)
Sujood is the greatest thing a Muslim can do; it’s the one thing Satan wouldn’t do!
O Allah, make us of the saajideen— make us increase our sujood, make our hearts present, elevate us through every sajdah, and erase our sins. Ameen!
Source: Understand Quran
“Prayer is oxygen for the heart.” I’ve heard Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed refer to this several times when she is speaking on different spiritual matters. Just as our bodies need oxygen to survive, our hearts need salah (prayer) so our faith can survive.
Think about that for a while.
How Long Can You Hold Your Breath For?
A quick internet search tells us that humans can hold their breath for anything between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. More than that and death could potentially be imminent.
The same goes for our faith. We should all be fulfilling our 5 daily prayers but if we are regularly skipping salah it’s like holding our breath. It will lead to spiritual discomfort and, eventually, distress.
And when we are in distress, the need to take in more oxygen is even more acute.
No one Can Do it For You
You can’t ask your parents to do it for you. You can’t ask your friends to do it for you. And you can’t pay anyone to do it for you. You must do it for yourself. That applies to both breathing and prayer.
Our need for oxygen is so vital to our survival that it’s an involuntary action. You don’t need to think about it and you don’t forget to do it. The same should be true for our prayer.
It should be such an integral part of our lives that we do it out of pure habit, we should feel pulled towards it. We should start to feel uncomfortable when we become lazy.
Our prayer is our connection to Allah.
No prayer, no connection. No oxygen, no life.
Drowning
This life is a test. Some of us will get off lightly, others will be tested with greater difficulties. This is all part of Allah’s plan.
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. (Quran 2:155)
Have you ever heard of these sayings, “to be thrown in at the deep end” or “to sink or swim”?
We use these sayings when someone has experienced an unexpected hardship. Both refer to being able to rise to surface and breathe. In other words, overcome your difficulty and survive. To fail would be to drown.
Sink or Swim?
There are times when Allah will throw us in at the deep end to test our faith. Do we sink or swim?
Do you neglect your prayers when life is hectic or difficult or do you guard your prayer and turn to Allah with even more faith?
If you choose to neglect your salah, you are essentially cutting off your oxygen supply. Evidently, this will make matters worse.
Your struggle will be more intense.
But if you choose to turn to Allah, remain faithful to Him in times of hardship then, eventually, you will rise to the surface and experience that gulp of air that brings relief, gratitude and joy.
Take Deep Breaths
What about those who do faithfully perform their 5 prayers? How should they approach life’s difficulties if they are already “breathing”?
If you have ever experienced a breathing difficulty, a panic attack (or even the common cold), it was not because you chose not to breathe. Sometimes life throws us a calamity which completely takes our breath away.
And what advice are we given in that case?
“Take nice deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth.” We pay special attention to how we breathe until the situation eases.
With life, it is the same. When times are tough, pay special attention to your prayer. In fact, several times in the Quran, Allah specifically tells us to approach our problems with patience and prayer.
Seek Allah’s help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble. (2:45)
Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere. (2:153)
A Spiritual Oxygen Mask
Personally, I have experienced panic and anxiety. My breathing becomes erratic and I feel completely suffocated.
In these times of distress, I remember Allah by slowly repeating His Names or reciting some verses of the Quran. This provides me with focus and encourages me to control my breathing.
I like to think of it as a spiritual oxygen mask.
In this case, prayer gives me relief physically and spiritually; my body starts to calm down and my heart remembers that, whatever my worry, Allah is my rescue and relief.
The Sweetness of Salah
Prayer is our regular time out from our daily routine. We perform ablution, tidy our appearance and stand quietly at our prayer mat.
The prayer will always be there, it will always be our refuge, our time with Allah to just breathe.
And when we are sad, afraid, anxious, then our prayer can be that glorious gasp for air as we reach the water’s surface.
No one knows you better than Allah, when you turn to Him in prayer, you can be assured that you don’t need words to tell Him how you feel, there are never any misunderstandings.
So when you stand on your prayer mat, pour out your worries, set down any burdens you may be carrying.
Supplicate at any time of the day or night for:
Verily, in the remembrance of God [men’s] hearts do find their rest. (Quran 13:28)
(From Discovering Islam archive)
SOURCE: https://aboutislam.net/spirituality/you-need-prayer-to-spiritually-breathe/
