It says in Soorat al-Hajj 22:18 that the dawaab (moving living
creatures, beasts, etc.) prostrate to Allaah. What is the nature of
this prostration?
Praise be to Allaah.
Note that this universe and all the created beings in it is in thrall
to Allaah, whether by choice or by force. The believer worships Allaah
by choice and is rewarded for his worship. Even though the kaafir may
be alienated from his Lord and failing to worship Him, the atoms of
his body and everything in him is worshipping Him and glorifying Him,
but because our understanding and perception are limited, weare
unaware of that tasbeeh (glorification of Allaah) and unable to
understand its nature. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him
and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand
not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving"
[al-Isra' 17:44]
What this means is that every created being is in astate of submission
to Allaah and worships Him in a manner appropriate to its situation.
The sun, moon, stars, trees and animals are all in a state of
subjugation to Allaah and prostrate to Him, and all of them worship
Him in an appropriate manner.Allaah says (interpretationof the
meaning):
"See you not that whoever is in the heavensand whoever is on the
earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains,
and the trees, and Ad-Dawaabb [moving (living) creatures, beasts], and
many of mankind prostrate themselves to Allaah. But there are many
(men) on whom thepunishment is justified. And whomsoever Allaah
disgraces, none can honour him. Verily, Allaah does what He wills"
[al-Hajj 22:18]
"Have they not observed things that Allaah has created: (how) their
shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto
Allaah, and they are lowly?
And to Allaah prostrate allthat is in the heavens and all that is in
the earth, of the moving (living) creatures and the angels, and they
are not proud [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allaah) with humility]"
[al-Nahl 16:48-49]
Imaam Ibn Katheer said: Allaah is telling us of His Might, Majesty and
Pride, for everything submits to Him and all things and creatures
humble themselves before Him, inanimate objects and animals, and those
which are accountable among mankind and the jinn, andthe angels.
Allaah tells us that everything that has ashadow that inclines towards
the right and towards the left – i.e., morning and evening –
prostrates to Allaah. Mujaahid said: When the sun passes its zenith
everything prostrates to Allaah.
Allaah has confirmed that all beings prostrate to Him, and He has
explainedhow some of them prostrate, which is by the inclining of its
shadow towards the right and the left. It does not mean thateverything
prostrates on seven parts of the body; that applies only to the
Muslims. The prostration of all other beings is in accordance with
their nature. The fact that this prostration is prostration in the
real sense is indicated by the apparent meaning of the text, because
there is no valid reason for not interpreting the text as it appears
to be, so we mustaccept it. That is also supported by the fact thatthe
prostration of the sun,moon, stars, trees and animals is mentioned in
conjunction with the prostration of the angels and humans, which
indicates that this is prostration in a real sensefor all the entities
mentioned. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said:
Prostration is a form of humility, so the prostration which includes
all creatures implies the utmost submission and humility. For every
created thing submits to His greatness and humbles itself before His
might and power. Thisdoes not mean that everything prostrates like
human beings do, on seven parts of the body, putting the forehead on
the ground. This kind of prostration is only for human beings. Some
other nations bow but do not prostrate, and that is their prostration.
Allaah says (interpretation of themeaning):
'and enter the gate in prostration (or bowing with humility) and say:
"Forgive us"'
[al-Baqarah 2:58]
It was said that this means enter it bowing, and some of them
prostrate on their sides like the Jews. Sujood (prostration) is a
generic term but because the wayin which Muslims prostrate is so well
known, many people think that this is how everything prostrates.
Jaami' al-Rasaa'il, 1/27
And he said:
It is known that everything prostrates according to its nature, and
the prostration of these created entities does not mean that they put
their foreheads on theground.
Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 21/284 :->
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