Any Benefits of Muslim “Earthing” Prostration?

Prostration is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position as a gesture.

Typically prostration is distinguished from the lesser acts of bowing or kneeling by involving a part of the body above the knee touching the ground, especially the hands.

Major world religions employ prostration as an act of submissiveness or worship to a supreme being or other worshiped entities (i.e. God or the gods), as in the sajdah of the Islamic prayer, salat, or to show reverence to persons or other elements of the religion.

In various cultures and traditions, prostrations are similarly used to show respect to rulers, civil authorities and elders or superiors. The Chinese kowtow or Ancient Persian proskynesis are examples.

The act has often traditionally been an important part of religious, civil, and traditional rituals and ceremonies. It remains in use in many cultures.

Prostrations in Islam

In Islam, prostrations are used to praise, glorify and humble oneself in front of Allah. They are a vital part of the five obligatory prayers performed daily; this is deemed obligatory for every Muslim whether the prayers are being performed individually or in congregation.

Additionally, the 32nd surah of the Qur’an is titled As-Sajdah. The Arabic word sujud (prostration) appears about 90 times in the Qur’an. Many Muslim scholars claim that this fact is another example of its significance in Islam.

In addition to the prescribed prayers in Sajda, with the exception of the Ahmadiyya thought, many schools of jurisprudence disallow individuals to beseech God as they please in their own language.

According to a traditional account of the words and deeds of Muhammad as contained in the collection of hadith of Ibn Majah, Muhammad is reported to have said that “The prayer [salah] is a cure for many diseases”.

In another hadith, he advised people to perform prostration calmly and to get up only when the body eases. It is also important to note that in Islam, prostration to any one but Allah is absolutely forbidden.

Muhammad strictly prohibited Muslims from prostrating before him, because prostration should only be performed to Allah, not to creatures. Regardless of the circumstances, no Muslim should request, or even accept, it from others.

This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date, and now republished for its importance.

The post Any Benefits of Muslim “Earthing” Prostration? appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/science-muslim-issues/benefits-muslim-earthing-prostration/