The Transforming Power of Sujud

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would retreat to the cave of Ḥira’, it was an act of spiritual purification, a search for the key to confront the widespread injustice of his people — a system built on falsehood, centered on worshiping idols that neither benefit nor harm, yet used to mislead the masses and uphold the power of the strong over the weak.

It was then that Allah (swt) revealed to His servant His Book — a Divine guide presenting the true vision of life, rooted in clinging to Allah, fleeing to Him, trusting Him, surrendering fully, and submitting with complete humility. All of these meanings are embodied in the act of Sujud (prostration), the very essence of humility and need before Allah, seeking His refuge and holding fast to Him. Physically, this is expressed when the servant places the most honored part of the body, the face, upon the ground. And when prostration is performed with heart, spirit, and body, the servant reaches the closest state to Allah, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The closest a servant is to his Lord is while he (/she) is in prostration, so increase in supplication.”

Sujud is one of the greatest blessings. It is the key that the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) longed for — the key by which the soul ascends, and the servant becomes a friend of Allah (swt). In a sacred Hadith, Allah declares: “Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I have declared war upon them.”

In Allah’s words: “Those to whom We have given the Book recite it as it should be recited; they are the ones who believe in it” (2:121). The profound meaning lies not merely in “they recite it” but in “We have given them,” for the giving itself is the supreme blessing. Similarly, Sujud is a supreme favor, guiding the servant to the honored station of prostration.

Reflect on the journey of the soul — from being lost to guidance, from heedlessness to awareness, and from confusion to clarity. It is a path that leads to the gift of Sujud, and to the recognition of the immense blessing found in bowing with humility before Allah, the Most High. In Sujud, servitude is perfected, humility is embodied, and submission to Allah (swt) is fully realized. It becomes a source of tranquility, a strength for the heart, and an elevation for the soul. Within it, one tastes the sweetness of intimate nearness to the Lord — a glimpse of Paradise granted in this fleeting world. Through Sujud, the believer is freed from the weight of worldly attachments and from fleeting pleasures that often end only in regret and emptiness.

In prostration, the servant turns away from all else and flees to Allah, seeking refuge in Him alone. In Sujud, the heart finds solace amidst trials, pours out its grief and sorrow, and rises renewed — with peace, steadfastness, and freedom from fear and anguish. Allah (swt) tells us of the magicians: “So the magicians fell down, prostrating. They said, ‘We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron’” (26:46–48). In that moment, faith filled their hearts, and with unwavering tongues, they placed all their hope in Allah’s mercy. Confronted by Pharaoh’s threat, they replied with serenity: “No harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will return. We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we are the first to believe” (26:50–51). Such is the transformative power of Sujud; it turns fear into courage, despair into hope, and weakness into strength.

When observed in its proper form, Sujud becomes an identity that the servant internalizes until he/she is counted among the Sajidin (those who prostrate). Allah affirms this in His words: “And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful, Who sees you when you rise ˹for prayer at night˺, and your movement among those who prostrate. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing” (26:217–220). Likewise, He says: “We certainly know that your heart is truly distressed by what they say. So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him].” (15:97–98). These verses highlight the elevated status of Sujud as a mark of servitude and steadfastness in the face of hardship.

For a servant to join the ranks of those who prostrate, he/she must take to heart the counsel the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) gave to Rabi‘ah ibn Ka‘b al-Aslami. When Rabi‘ah asked to accompany the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Paradise, the Prophet replied: “Help me to help you by increasing your prostrations.” From this, we understand that the greatest means of striving against the self is frequent prostration. Sujud strengthens steadfastness, guards against heedlessness, and keeps the servant constantly turning back to Allah — clinging to Him and relying upon Him. It is as though the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed us to the very means that ensure stability and preserve one’s spiritual state from decline, precisely what Rabi‘ah longed for when he made his request.

Sujud is a safeguard for uprightness and constancy, as Allah describes those who remained true to their covenant with Him: “They have never changed ˹their commitment˺ in the least” (33:23). Prostration refines the believer’s character, grants inner freedom and independence, and shields from being swayed by those who mislead others away from the truth.

Through prostration, one maintains an unbroken connection with the truth — is certain of it, firm upon it, and trusting fully in Allah. As He says: “And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise” (25:58), and: “So rely upon Allah; indeed, you are upon the clear truth” (27:79).

Two obstacles keep a servant from joining the ranks of those who prostrate:

First: selfishness, pride, and arrogance — exemplified by Iblīs, who refused to prostrate.

Second: heedlessness — Allah, Exalted is He, forbade it and instructed His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) not to be among the heedless: “And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and fear, without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings; and do not be among the heedless” (7:205).