I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones

Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence of acts of worship > I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones

Hadith narrated by Agreed upon

Authentic

Table of Contents :

Hadith text
Explanation of the hadith
Lessons of the hadith

Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM

📖 1 min read

Hadith text: I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones

Explanation of the hadith: I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that Allah commanded him to prostrate in prayer on seven body parts, which are:

First: The forehead, i.e., the upper part of the face above the nose and eyes. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed with his hand to his nose to clarify that the forehead and the nose represent one part of the seven and to stress the fact that one must touch the ground with his nose in prostration.

The second and third parts: The two hands.

The fourth and fifth: The knees.

The sixth and seventh: The toes of both feet.

He commanded us not to tie our hair or fold up our clothes when prostrating on the ground to protect them; rather, we should let them spread out and fall on the ground to prostrate along with the body parts.

Lessons: I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones

It is a must in prayer to prostrate on the seven parts.
It is disliked to tuck up and fold back the clothes and hair in prayer.
The one praying must maintain his composure during his prayer by placing the seven parts included in Sujūd (prostration) on the ground and resting on them until he recites the prescribed Dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
The prohibition of folding back the hair is exclusively prescribed for men apart from women, who are commanded to cover themselves in prayer.

Categories : Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship · Prayer · Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles · Method of Prayer

← In the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessin… When you prostrate, place your palms and raise your elbows →

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Mon 21 Jumada al-Awwal
الاثنين 21 جمادى الأولى

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ