Part 17: “How to Taste the True Beauty of Salah” !

Part 17: “How to Taste the True Beauty of Salah” !
***The Perfect Sujood ***

We continue with the greatest pillar of Salah, the Sujood! Now don’t you wish you could have watched the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) himself as he did his sujood?
This is the aim of today’s segment, to carry to you the description of the proper sujood, just the way our Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) prostrated before Allah, in hope that we can perfect our own performance of this precious pillar. When you are ready to perform the prostration, make sure to call out “Allahu Akbar” on your way down for sujood..
Not before, nor after, but during the descent(act of moving downwards). The stronger opinion is that the palms are to touch the ground first before the knees, to avoid resembling the descent of a beast (camel). Next, the head makes a gentle contact with the ground till the forehead (and nose) is firm upon the ground. Ensure that there is no barrier (as that of a head covering) that might prevent direct contact of your forehead with the place of prostration. With palms firmly down, keep fingers close together. Point fingers, knees and toes towards the Qibla. Palms can either be parallel with the head, or parallel with the shoulders. Keep the elbows elevated off the ground. (For men) Extend elbows as far away from your sides as possible. Keep abdomen away from the thighs.

The Sujood is done on a total of 7 body parts: The forehead (including the nose), the two palms, the two knees, and the two feet (toes)… All firm upon the ground till every bone and joint is fixed in place with peace and calm. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) never recited Quran in this position, but instead, he made much duaa. He said, “The closest a servant ever is to His Lord, is when he is prostrating (in sujood), so make in it much duaa.” Sunan an-Nasa'i 1137.And what have we been taught to say, when we are down so low? “Subhana Rabbiyal-A’ala” (How perfect My Lord is, The Most High!).. 3 times or more.

To make duaa is to talk to Allah(azza wa jal). When you love someone, you love to talk to him more. You love to stay engaged longer! Do you remember when Allah spoke to Prophet Moses (alaihi salaam) in the valley of Tuwa (below Mount Sinai)? (See 20 Sura Taha: From verse 11) As Allah spoke to him, Moses listened and listened, so absorbed!
Then, what did he do when Allah suddenly asked him, “ And what is that in your right hand, O Musa? ” Musa(alaihi salaam) was feeling such a comfort and pleasure as he engaged with the words of his beloved Lord that a euphoria enveloped his answer… and with that… he set off in speech!... “ It is my staff; I lean upon it; and I bring down leaves with it for my sheep..(20:18)” He was so lost in the rapture of this special engagement… till he remembered the Grandeur before Him,and so… cut it short, “.. and in it I have other uses.” So as you prostrate in nearness to Him, try to feel the pleasure Prophet Musa(alaihi salaam) felt. Remember the love you hold for Him. Talk to Him, praise Him, ask Him, unload your burdens at His door, and reach out for the peace that only He can bring.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) taught us many supplications, each with a different meaning,each with a unique flavor. Each serves to renew our focus.In a hadith,A’ishah(radhi Allahu anha) said; one night I missed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and when I sought him on the spot of prayer I found him in prostration with his feet raised, and he was saying:

أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَأَعُوذُ بِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ لاَ أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ "

“ Allahumma, inni a’uthu biridaka min sakhatek, wa bimu’afaatika min uqubatek, wa a’uthu bika mink, la uhsi thana’an alaik anta kama athnaita ala nafsek. ” (O Allah, I seek refuge within Your pleasure, from Your displeasure. And within Your pardon, from Your punishment. And I seek refuge in You, from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself.) Sunan Abi Dawud 879.

We have one Rukuu in each unit of Salah, but two prostrations, why? Because the Sujood is the Salah’s greatest pillar, it is performed twice! Once is just not enough. The Prophet Muhammed(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to lengthen his prostrations, savoring in these precious moments with Allah. (This was an especially precious time for his young grandchildren as well! And he would not come up from his sujood, till their riding fun was satisfied!)