Do I Have to Place My Nose on the Floor When Praying?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

I have recently been told that my nose must touch the floor when praying. Do I need to repeat my previous prayers in which I didn’t do it?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

No, you don’t need to make up any prayers in which you didn’t place your nose on the ground because those prayers were valid.

The basis is that placing the nose on the ground is necessary (wajib), and not obligatory, because of the deliberate, consistent practice of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Hence, you must place your nose on the ground during the prostration, unless you have a legally acceptable excuse not to do so.

[Mulla Khusro, Durar al-Hukkam]

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.