on whether the two prostrations of Quranic recitation and gratitude are prayers or not. If we say that they are prayers, purification is required for them; but if we say that they are not prayers, purification is not required for them.
Anyone who reflects upon the sunnah will recognize that they are not prayers, for the following reasons:
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The Messenger ﷺ would perform the prostration of Quranic recitation, and it has not been narrated that he would say the takbīr when prostrating or rising from it, nor that he would give the salām—except in a hadith narrated by Abu Dawud concerning the takbīr for going into prostration, but not for rising from it, and with no salām. (1)
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The Messenger ﷺ prostrated while reciting Surat al-Najm, and both the Muslims and the polytheists prostrated with him. A polytheist's prayer is not valid, yet the Prophet ﷺ did not censure this. (2)
This may, however, be challenged by saying: The polytheists' prostration at that time took place before ablution was made obligatory, since ablution was only prescribed along with the prayer, and the prayer was not prescribed until later—one year, or three years, before the Hijrah. So long as this possibility remains, the evidence drawn from it is open to question.
Whoever reflects upon the Prophet's ﷺ prostration of gratitude or Quranic recitation will find that he