Placing the Forehead on the Ground

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The entire forehead, from the hairline to the eyebrows is for Sajdah (prostration). Whatever of this area falls on the ground of the size of a dirham or of the size of a finger’s tip is sufficient.’”

“Reported to me the one who had heard, Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Salah (prayer) does not come into being until one’s nose touches what his forehead has touched.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you place your forehead on an uneven place, do not raise it to place on a proper place: instead drag it on the ground.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the place of Sujud (prostration) if it can be higher than the place where one stands. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it must be level.’ In another Hadith about the place of Sujud (prostration) which is higher than the place on which one stands, it is said that if it is of the height of a brick it is not harmful.’”

“On my forehead there was a dimple so I would perform Sajdah (prostration) on one side. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), noticed it and asked, ‘What is this?’ I replied, ‘I cannot perform Sajdah (prostration) because of the pimple so I perform Sajdah (prostration) on one side.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not do so, instead make a dent, then place the dimple in the dent area so your forehead touches the ground.’”

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from through the chain of his narrators has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of one on whose forehead there is something because of which he is not able to perform Sajdah (prostration) on it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He places his chin on the ground; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “They fall down on their chins prostrating.’”” (17:107)

“I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), leveled the pebbles when he wanted to perform Sujud (prostration).”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’Can one blow at the place where he places his forehead for prostration? 5 He (the Imam) replied, ’No, he cannot do so.”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Sajdah (prostration) wearing a turban which prevents his face from falling on the earth. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not sufficient until his forehead touches the earth.’”