Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

hello brother in islam

i hve one question which i want u to answer me as soon as possible my doubt is about performing sajdah in prayers sum people say tht women should perform sajdah n she should touch her elbows on the ground n sum ppl say tht women should not touch her elbows on the ground while sajdah n sum ppl say that there is diffrence between men n women prayers plz answer my questions as soon as possible i will be thankful to u ALLAH HAFIZ 

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Answer:

Woman in sajdah prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: sum ppl say that there is diffrence between men n women prayers

To the best of our knowledge, there is no specific command or guidance from the Messenger of Allah (saws) stating the difference between the postures of the male or female believing slave while in the state of prayer. Bukhari related that the Messenger of Allah (saws) gave a general command to the believers, men and women alike: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray.’

There is a mention of some companions like Hadrat Abdullah ibn Umar (r.a.) who asked his women to crouch close to their bodies when performing the ‘rukoo’ and ‘sujood’ while praying in public, so that they would be able to honor their ‘satr’ in a better manner, and thus their curves while bending would not be very obvious to the non-mehram men, if they were around. But that guidance from the scholar and companion of the stature of Hadrat Abdullah ibn Umar (r.a.) would not in any way effect or contradict the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) for the believing men and women alike: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray.’

Your Question: my doubt is about performing sajdah in prayers sum people say tht women should perform sajdah n she should touch her elbows on the ground n sum ppl say tht women should not touch her elbows on the ground while sajdah

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 862 Narrated by Uqbah ibn Amr al-Ansari

Salim al-Barrad said: ‘We came to Abu Mas'ud Uqbah ibn Amr al-Ansari and said to him: “Tell us about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (saws).” He stood up before us in the mosque and said the takbir. When he bowed, he placed his hands upon his knees and put his fingers below, and kept his elbows (arms) away from his sides, so everything returned properly to its place. Then he said: "Allah listens to him who praises Him"; then he stood up so that everything returned properly to its place; then he said the takbir and prostrated and put the palms of his hands on the ground; he kept his elbow (arms) away from his sides, so that everything returned to its proper place. Then he raised his head and sat so that everything returned to its place; he then repeated it in a similar way. Then he offered four rak'ahs of prayer like this rak'ah and completed his prayer. Then he said: “Thus we witnessed the Messenger of Allah (saws) offering his prayer.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.509 Narrated by Anas

The Prophet said, "Do the prostration properly and do not put your forearms flat with elbows touching the ground like a dog.”

There is only one way to perform the sajdah in prayer, and that is the way done and taught by the Messenger of Allah (saws) to the believers, men and women alike: to bow or prostrate oneself in absolute humility to the One and Only Lord in a way where the forehead, the palms, the knees, and the toes rest on the ground. The Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically commanded the believers, men and women alike, to abstain from putting their forearms flat with the elbows touching the ground while in the state of prostration.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan