Central Khutbah: “Prostration: A Humbling That Elevates in Both Worlds”

At first glance, prostration appears to be an act of lowering oneself. Yet, in its true essence, it is an elevation. By placing the noblest part of his body—his face—upon the ground, the believer is raised in rank before Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. For this reason, prostration is not merely an integral part of the prayer; it is a state of unique closeness to Allah, a gateway to His mercy, a privileged moment for supplication, a path to Paradise, and a remedy for sorrow, anxiety, and distress.

Among the greatest virtues of prostration is that it is a means of entering Paradise. Rabīʿah al-Aslamī (may Allah be pleased with him), who served the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said to him, “Ask me for whatever you wish.” Rabīʿah replied, “I ask for your companionship in Paradise.” The Prophet ﷺ asked, “Anything else?” He answered, “That is all I ask.” The Prophet ﷺ then said, “Then help me achieve that for you by performing many prostrations.” (Muslim)

This hadith clearly demonstrates that frequent prostration leads the servant to the noblest of goals: the companionship of the Prophet ﷺ in Paradise. There is no greater success than for one’s act of humbling oneself before Allah to become the means of eternal elevation.

Prostration is also a cause for the increase of good deeds, the erasure of sins, and the raising of one’s rank. Maʿdān ibn Abī Ṭalḥah reported that he asked Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) about a deed that leads to Paradise. Thawbān replied that he had asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the same question, and he answered: “Persist in making many prostrations to Allah, for you will never perform a single prostration except that Allah will raise you by one degree because of it and erase one of your sins.” (Muslim)

Every sincere prostration therefore bears a double reward: it elevates the believer before Allah and purifies him from his sins. How many prostrations does a believer perform throughout his lifetime, and how many doors of goodness, forgiveness, and closeness to his Lord are opened through them?

Prostration is also one of the causes of attaining Allah’s mercy. Allah, the Most High, says:

“And when it is said to them, ‘Prostrate to the Most Merciful,’ they say, ‘And what is the Most Merciful? Shall we prostrate to what you command us?’ And it only increases them in aversion.”
(Surah Al-Furqān, 25:60)

The scholars have pointed out the special significance of this verse, in which Allah mentions His Name Ar-Raḥmān (the Most Merciful), thereby linking prostration with His mercy. Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (may Allah have mercy on him) explained that prostration is one of the means by which Allah’s mercy is attained. In other words, the verse conveys: “Prostrate to the Most Merciful so that you may attain His mercy.” Thus, the believer does not view prostration merely as an obligation but as a gateway to divine mercy that opens every time he sincerely places his forehead before his Lord.

Prostration is also the moment when supplication is closest to being answered. Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“I have been forbidden to recite the Qur’an while bowing (rukūʿ) and while prostrating (sujūd). As for bowing, glorify your Lord therein. As for prostration, strive earnestly in supplication, for it is more deserving that your supplications be answered.” (Muslim)

Prostration is therefore the moment when the heart opens itself and the tongue humbly calls upon its Lord. It is there that the servant acknowledges his weakness while magnifying Allah’s greatness. It is there that he utters the sincerest supplications, seeking not only the blessings of this world, but above all forgiveness, guidance, steadfastness, inner peace, and Allah’s pleasure.

Prostration is also a remedy for sorrow, anxiety, and distress. Allah said to His Prophet ﷺ:

“We certainly know that your heart is distressed by what they say. So glorify your Lord with His praise and be among those who prostrate.”
(Surah Al-Ḥijr, 15:97–98)

This verse contains a profound lesson for every believer. When the heart becomes burdened, when trials accumulate, or when people’s words cause pain, the remedy is not to distance oneself from prayer, but to return to it. It is not to complain to the creation, but to prostrate before the Lord of all the worlds.

Ibn ʿAṭiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) explained that the words “be among those who prostrate” refer to those who establish the prayer. Allah specifically mentioned prostration because it is the state of greatest closeness to Him, the noblest part of the prayer, and the moment most deserving of His mercy.

It is therefore no surprise that whenever something troubled or distressed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he would turn to prayer. Prayer is a source of tranquility, and prostration is its very heart. It calms inner turmoil, eases sorrow, quiets emotional storms, and returns the servant to his Lord. How many people have found no relief in conversations, plans, or worldly comforts, yet found peace through a single sincere prostration that opened their hearts and filled them with serenity.

Prostration is, indeed, a humbling that elevates in both worlds. In this life, it raises the believer through tranquility, mercy, accepted supplications, and closeness to Allah. In the Hereafter, it raises his rank, erases his sins, and leads him to Paradise.

Whoever truly understands this will never rush through his prostration or reduce it to a mere physical movement. Rather, he will remain in it with humility and reflection, aware of its immense value, prolong his supplications, and know that he is closest to Allah when his face is upon the earth while his heart is in complete submission to his Lord.

We ask Allah, the Most High, to make us love prostration, to make it a means of purifying us from our sins, raising our ranks, opening for us the gates of His mercy, and making us among those who, through sincere prostration, attain tranquility in this life and success in the Hereafter.

(Central khutbah by the Religious Leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on April 3, 2026, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique Nordstad” in Diekirch)