What are the Conditions for a valid Prostration of Gratitude?
Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
Question
My mother wanted me to ask about the Prostration of Shukr and whether it was subject to the same conditions of validity as Salah and the Prostration of Tilawah. More specifically, whether it could be done while:
– Being in a state of major ritual impurity (e.g., hayd)
– Or being in a state of minor ritual impurity
– The ‘awra of Salah not being completely covered.
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
I pray this finds you in the best of states.
The prostration of thankfulness (shukr) won’t be valid except by fulfilling all the conditions for the validity of the prayer. This includes not being affected by menstruation, being in a state of ritual purity reached after performing wudu, and covering one’s nudity. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
The reason for this ruling is that a prostration, being an integral part of the prayer, cannot be valid except by fulfilling all the conditions for the validity of the prayer. It follows that the prostration of thankfulness, being a prostration itself, cannot be valid without fulfilling all the conditions for the validity of the prayer. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Allah, Most High, says: “O believers! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of ˹full˺ impurity, then take a full bath.” [Quran, 5:6]
Reminder
According to the Hanafi school, the prostration of thankfulness is recommended whenever the believer is granted a manifest blessing in life, such as acquiring new wealth, a newborn, or being spared from a calamity. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
And Allah knows best.
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found.
Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.
He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others.
He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.
