Prostrating all Seven Parts of the Body

What if all seven parts of the body did not touch the ground during prostration?

Sujood is a rukn (pillar) of the prayer, meaning that if a capable person does not perform it, whether he left it intentionally or unintentionally the prayer would be invalid. If he did not perform a pillar unintentionally (out of forgetfulness for example), then he returns back to that position when he remembers and repeats what came after it in the prayer, completing it fully, and then adds two sajdahs at the end called sajdatay as-sahw, prostrations made due to forgetfulness.




Question:

As-salamu Alaikum

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

It is not permissible for a worshipper to lift up any of these seven parts of the body when prostrating, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead, and he pointed to his nose, and on the two hands, the two knees and the edges of the two feet (i.e., the toes). Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 812; Muslim, 490. If he lifts up one or both of his feet, or one or both of his hands, or his forehead or nose, or both of them, then his prostration is invalid and does not count, and if his prostration is invalid then his prayer is also invalid. Liqaa'aat al-Baab al-Maftooh by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 2/99

Does anyone know whether your prayer will be invalid, if you lift one of these limbs up out forgetfullness and not deliberatly, are their any fatawa on this? And do you stop the Prayer when you lift any of them up and start all over again (both praying alone & congregation).

Can someone clarify this, this issue has left me confused.
Jazakallahu Khair

Answer:
Wa 'alaykumus-salaamu wa rahmatullaah

Sujood is a rukn (pillar) of the prayer, meaning that if a capable person does not perform it, whether he left it intentionally or unintentionally the prayer would be invalid. If he did not perform a pillar unintentionally (out of forgetfulness for example), then he returns back to that position when he remembers and repeats what came after it in the prayer, completing it fully, and then adds two sajdahs at the end called sajdatay as-sahw, prostrations made due to forgetfulness.

This includes if a rukn (pillar) was not performed in a valid way, like in the example mentioned, when a capable person makes sajdah on some but not all of the seven body parts.

That is because the sajdah which is a pillar itself is made up of seven necessary elements:

1) the face with both of the following on the floor:
a) forehead
b) nose

2/3) the two hands

4/5) the two knees

6/7) the two feet, the edges of the toes

that is based on the hadeeth mentioned.

And the hadeeth that proves that any missing action mentioned above would render the sajdah invalid is the hadeeth narrated by Ibn 'Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him):


لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لاَ يُصِيبُ أَنْفُهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ مَا يُصِيبُ الْجَبِينُ
"There is no prayer for someone whose nose does touch the floor as much as his forehead."


Al-Albaanee said that it was collected by Ad-Daaraqutnee, al-Bayhaqee, and al-Haakim, who called it saheeh according to al-Bukhaaree's conditions and Ath-Thahabee approved of that verdict.

And in one wording collected by at-Tabaraanee (used as support for the authenticity of the above narration):


مَنْ لَمْ يُلْزِقْ أَنْفَهُ مَعَ جَبْهَتِهِ بِالأَرْضِ إِذَا سَجَدَ لَمْ تُجْزِ صَلاَتُهُ
"The prayer of the one who does not place his nose along with his forehead to the ground when he prostrates is invalid."

These narrations show the importance of the two parts of only one pillar of sujood being fulfilled properly, and that if one of the two is missing or deficient, then the prayer is invalid.

Al-Albaanee says in conclusion, "This is an explicit text that shows that when the nose is not touching the floor the prayer is invalid."
Refer to: Aslu Sifatis-Salaatin-Nabee (2/733-735) sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam

Knowing this issue is of the highest level of importance, since it is related to the basic elements of a pillar of our religion, may Allaah bless us all with understanding of His Religion.

I hope this helps make the issue clear, and Allaah knows best.

By Abul-'Abbaas Moosaa Richardson