Re: Shias and the Turba in Prayer
The following is an excerpt from Prostrating on Turbah from an article on Shia method of prayer. Hope it will help and answer some questions raised in this topic.
Praying on Turbah
Shi’as normally place a Turbah (Sajdagaah in Urdu) made of clay to prostrate on while offering prayers and this act is proven from the Holy Prophet’s Sunnah, there are numerous traditions in the Hadeeth books of Ahl e Sunnah that Holy Prophet (s) used to place a Sajdagaah to prostrate on. We believe that the most humble act is to prostrate on Allah (swt)’s earth, rather than man made cloth. In this regards we find these traditions. The word used in the traditions is ‘Khumrah’ which has been translated as ‘Sajdagaah’ by the Sunni Scholars.
Allah’s Apostle used to pray on a Khumra
Allamah Waheed uz-Zaman while commenting on this tradition states in his esteemed commentary on Sahih al Bukhari:
“All the jurists unanimously agree that it is permissible to prostrate on Sajdagaah, but Umer bin Abdul Aziz says that he used to prostrate on the mud which was supposed to be brought for him, and Ibn e Abi Shaybah narrates from Urwah that he considered prostrating on anything else other the Sajdagaah as undesirable.”
Tayseer al-Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, page 275, published by Taj Company Limited.
Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Daud have both maintained whole chapters on prostration on clay.
1. Tayseer al-Bari Sharh Bukhari, Volume 1, page 276.
*2. Sunan Abi Daud, volume 1, page 291, translated by Maulana Waheed uz-Zaman. *
The prostration of Holy Prophet (s) on clay is such a famous act that most of the narrators have mentioned it in their Hadeeth books.
According to Imam Shaukani, a famous Sunni scholar, more than ten Companions of the Prophet (s) have narrated traditions mentioning his prostration on a Khumrah. And he lists all the Sunni sources recording these traditions which include Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa’i and many others.
Nayl al-Autaar, Chapter of Prostration on the Khumrah, volume 2, page 128
In Sahih Tirmidhi, Hadhrath Abbas narrates that the Holy Prophet (s) prostrated on Sajdagaah.
Sahih Tirmidhi, volume 1, page 156, translated by Badee’ uz Zaman, published in Lahore
It is on the basis of these traditions that Medina born Imam Malik said:
“Other then the earth, to prostrate on anything else or botanic herbs or plants is undesirable.”
Urdu translation of Al-Muhalla, volume 3, page 115, by Imam Ibn e Hazm Andalasi, published in Lahore
Meaning of Khumrah
The Traditions that report about Holy Prophet’s (s) prostration spot usually state:
“The Holy Prophet (s) used to prostrate on Khumrah.”
Sunni scholars have defined the term Khumrah as follows:
Dr Mushin Khan in his English translation of Sahih al Bukhari vol. 1, book 8, no. 376 states in paranthesis)] defines Khumrah as:
“A small mat sufficient just for the face and the hands while prostrating during prayers.”
Ibn Athir in his Jami al-'Usul has written:
“Khumra is [like that] upon which the Shi’ah of our time perform their prostrations.”
Ibn al-‘Athir, Jami’ al-Usul, (Cairo, 1969), vol. 5, p. 467
Maulana Waheed Uz Zaman Khan Hyderabadi in “Lughaat Al-hadeeth” said:
“Khumra is the small piece of mat (made of palm leaves), or made up of date-palm leaves on which one can only place his head during each prostration.” A little further he writes that Ibn al-Aseer had said in Jame’ Al Usool, “Khumrah is a prostration spot on which Shiites used to prostrate in our times….Although in our religion it is permissible on a cloth but it’s better to prostrate on soil or mat (palm leaves).”
Lughaat ul Hadeeth, volume 1, Book: Letter khay, page 133, published by Meer Mohammad Kutb Khana, Aaram Bagh, Karachi (<-- scanned page in urdu)
**Allamah Waheed uz Zaman’s personal practice of prostration on Khumrah and deeming it Sunnah **
On the same page while concluding his discussions on using something to prostrate on Maulana Waheed Uz Zaman writes:
“I say that from this tradition, keeping something to prostrate on is lawful and it is incorrect for people to label those who do this as apostates. In accordance with this tradition, I sometimes keep a feather made of palm leaves to prostrate on and I do not care about the taunting and criticism of ignorant people. We should only be concerned with the traditions of the Holy Prophet (s), even if someone labels us as apostates.”
Lughaat ul Hadeeth, Volume 1, Book:Letter ‘Khay’, page 133, published by Meer Mohammad Kutb Khana, Aaram Bagh, Karachi
At another place he writes:
**“I often my lay my mat on the floor of the mosque that has cloth spread on it. Some of the people of Ahl’ul Sunnah condemn me unnecessarily for this. They do not understand that we should offer the prayers in a way which is right according to all. This is more cautionary. It is also reported that the Holy Prophet (s), offered prayers on cloth but obligatory prayers cannot be offered on cloth.” The Sahaba report that the Holy Prophet (s) used to prostrate on soil or mat (palm leaves).” **
Lughaat ul Hadeeth Volume 1, page 113, Book: Letter Bai, published by Meer Mohammad Kutb Khana, Aaram Bagh, Karachi (<-- scanned page in urdu)
To understand why muslim should use a turbah while praying click HERE](http://www.answering-ansar.org/fiqh/salat/en/chap12.php) (link to above article) or search al-islam.org for turbah.
