Chapter: The Prostration of Forgetfulness

The expression “prostration of forgetfulness” is an instance of attributing something to its cause. Such attributions take many forms: a thing may be attributed to its time, its place, its cause, or its type. Grammarians sometimes understand the attribution as implying “for,” sometimes “from,” and sometimes “in”; most commonly, however, it implies “for.”

It is understood as implying “in” when the second term denotes the time or place in which the first occurs; as “from” when it denotes its genus or type; and as “for” in all other cases.

Thus, Allah’s saying, “Rather, it was the plotting of night and day, when you commanded us to disbelieve in Allah” [Saba’ 34:33], is understood as meaning “the plotting during the night and day,” since night and day are the temporal setting of the plotting. Likewise, when you say, “an iron ring,” it is understood as “a ring made of iron,” because it is attributed to its type; and when you say, “Zayd’s book,” it is understood as “the book belonging to Zayd.”

“Prostration of forgetfulness” is of the latter kind: that is, prostration for forgetfulness—prostration whose cause is forgetfulness.

Forgetfulness may at times be used with the preposition “from,” and at other times with “in.”

When it is used with “from,” it is blameworthy, because it means heedlessness and deliberate neglect. But when it is used with “in,” it is excused, because it means that the heart inadvertently loses awareness of something known. Thus, if you say, “So-and-so forgot something in his prayer,” this is the kind that is excused. But if you say, “So-and-so neglected his prayer,” this is blameworthy. Hence Allah the Exalted says: “So woe to those who pray—”