Black marks on forehead etc...

[Sunset_Eyes]

I am sure you have come across people who have black marks on their foreheads, their knuckles etc due to their love for their religion or how religious they are…

But mostly I have noticed them on men. Dont get me wrong but I feel like women are more religious and read their namaaz more than men yet men have more of these marks than women?

I hope I am making sense and you understand so Clarification on this topic would be much appreciated!

[Faruk_Khan]

Re: Black marks on forehead etc...

urmm prolly coz men have bald heads so when they prostrate on the ground a lot, the skin which comes in contact with the hard surface toughens.

[Das_Reich]

Re: Black marks on forehead etc...

^ for women to prostrate their skin should also touch the ground
hair/cloth should not be in between

[STONECOLD]

Re: Black marks on forehead etc...

i believe the word for the mark on the forehead is "mehrab".....

[STONECOLD]

Re: Black marks on forehead etc...

i believe the word for the mark on the forehead is "mehrab".....

[shireen143]

Re: Black marks on forehead etc...

mostly men had mehrab on their forheads because of style of performing sajda of men and women are different.... for women saray body ko samiat kar sajda ka hukam hay jab kay for men ghutnay zameen kay sath touch ho or pait nahee.... jis ki wajha say woh jab sajday may jatain hain to pressure on their foreheads is more than women........

[Sadiyah]

Re: Black marks on forehead etc…

Assalamo alaykum,

I’ve read material on it in the past; however, can’t seem to lcoate it. However, while searching, here’s what I could find:

With regard to the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“… You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allaah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration (during prayers)….” [al-Fath 48:29]

– the correct meaning of the phrase “the mark of them is on their faces” is that this refers to the light of obedience and worship, and it does not necessarily mean that there is a physical mark on the skin in the place of prostration.

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Tafseer of this aayah:

“… ‘the mark of them is on their faces from the traces of prostration’ - ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah said, narrating from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them): ‘the mark of them is on their faces’ means their outward appearance. Mujaahid and others said that it means khushoo’ and humility. Ibn Abi Haatim said: my father told us, ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Tanaafusi told us, Husayn al-Ja’fi told us, from Zaa’idah from Mansoor from Mujaahid: ‘the mark of them is on their faces from the traces of prostration’ – he said: (this means) khushoo’ (humility). I said, I always thought that it meant this mark on the face. He said, That may appear between the eyes of one whose heart is harder than Pharaoh’s. Al-Saddi said: Prayer makes their faces beautiful. One of the Salaf said; Whoever prays more at night, his face becomes more handsome by day… Some of them said that a hasanah (good deeds) brings light (noor) to the heart and a glow to the face, an increased provision and the love of the people.”

The point is, the fact that this mark is present on the skin and there is a change in the colour of the forehead, does not mean that a person is righteous and sincere. By the same token, if this mark is absent, that does not mean that a person is failing in his prayers. In many cases it has to do with the nature and sensitivity of an individual’s skin.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked: is there any report to indicate that the mark on the forehead caused by sujood is a sign of the righteous?

He replied:

This is not one of the signs of the righteous; the sign is the light (noor ) which appears on the face, and being content and at peace, a good attitude, and the like.

As for the mark made by sujood on the face, it may appear on the faces of people who do not even pray the obligatory prayers, if their skin is very soft and sensitive, and it may not appear of the faces of people who pray a lot and make lengthy sujood.

(Fataawaa Islamiyyah, 1/484)

In conclusion, then, if you are sincere towards Allaah and seek to earn His pleasure when you pray, then what people say will not affect you; in fact, their praise of you may be a kind of hastening of glad tidings for you in this world. So follow the Sunnah and do sujood properly, and then do not worry about whether people praise you or condemn you. We ask Allaah to make you sincere and to accept your prayers.

And Allaah knows best.

Ref: What about the mark on a person’s forehead caused by sujood?

I hope someone else can post more relevant material that could be of assistance, insha’Allah.

Also, while at it, according to the authentic ahadith, there is no difference between the prayer of a man and a woman.