The Prostration of Thankfulness (Sajdatush-Shukr)

The Prostration of Thankfulness (Sajdatush-Shukr)

 

The majority of the scholars say that it is preferred to make prostrations of thankfulness (shukr) when one receives a bounty or is rescued from some trial. Abu Bakr reports that, when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) received something which pleased him or some glad tidings, he would make the sajdah in thanks to Allah. This is related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah, and at-Tirmidhee who says it is Hasan.

And al-Bayhaqi records, with a chain that meets al-Bukhari's conditions, that when 'Ali wrote to the Messenger of Allah, informing him that Hamazhan had embraced Islam, the Prophet prostrated, and when he raised his head, he said :"Peace be upon Hamazhan, peace be upon Hamazhan."

'Abdurrahman ibn 'Auf relates that the Messenger of Allah went out once and he followed him until he entered a grove of palm trees and prostrated. His prostration was so long that 'Abdurrahman feared that Allah had taken his soul. ‘Abdurrahman came to look at him and he raised his head and said: "What is wrong, Abdurrahman'?" Abdurrahman mentioned what had happened, and he said: "Gabriel alayhi as-salam came to me and said: 'Shall I not give you glad tidings'? Allah says to you, Whoever prays upon you, I pray upon him. Whoever salutes you, I salute him.' Therefore, I prostrated to Allah in thanks. "This is related by Ahmad and by Al-Hakim who says: "It is Sahih according to the criterion of al-Bukhãri and Muslim. And I do not know anything more authentic than that."

Al-Bukhãri records that Ka'b ibn Malik made a sajdah when he received the news that Allah had accepted his repentance. Ahmad records that 'Ali performed the sajdah when he heard the news that Zhul-Thudayyah of the Khawarij was killed. Also, as mentioned before, Sa'id ibn Mansur recorded that Abu Bakr made sajdah in thankfulness when Musailimah was killed.

The prostration of thankfulness is bound by the same requirements as the prostration in prayer, while some disagree as it is not a prayer. The author of Fath al-'Alam remarks: "This latter opinion is closer to being correct." Ash-Shawkaani said: "There is nothing in the hadith to prove that ablution and purity of the clothes and place are required for Sajdatush-Shukr. And that is the opinion of Imam Yahyaa and Abu Talib. And these hadith are silent about any Takbir being

 

Taken from Fiqh-ul-Sunnah page 256