his forehead would rise; and bringing the two surfaces together is impossible—or at least extremely difficult—because the nose lies between them, protruding in such a way that it prevents both from touching the ground at one and the same time. Accordingly, the worshipper falls upon his chin but actually prostrates upon his forehead. This is the “fall” associated with prostration.

Then He said:
“And they fall upon their chins, weeping” (Isra 17:109).
This is the fall of weeping; it may occur along with prostration, or it may occur without it.

The first case is illustrated by His words:
“Whenever the verses of the Most Merciful are recited to them, they fall down in prostration, weeping” (Maryam 19:58).
Here we find falling, prostration, and weeping combined.

The second case is exemplified by the verse, “And they fall upon their chins, weeping,” for a person may shed tears out of fear of Allah while humbling himself by falling down, even if he does not go so far as full prostration. This, too, is an act of worship, for it contains both falling before Allah and weeping for His sake. Both are devotional acts, and the tears shed for Allah—like those shed out of fear of Him—rank among the finest forms of worship.

It has been reported:
“Two eyes will never be touched by the Fire: an eye that kept watch in the path of Allah, and an eye from which even a tear the size of a fly’s head flowed out of fear of Allah.”