—“Chapter: The Prostration of the Muslims alongside the Polytheists,” even though a polytheist is deemed impure and has no ablution.

He further records: “Ibn ʿUmar would prostrate without ablution,” and he mentions the occasion on which the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—recited Sūrah al-Najm, then prostrated, whereupon both the Muslims and the polytheists prostrated with him.

This ḥadith appears in the two Ṣaḥīḥs through two separate routes: one from Ibn Masʿūd and another from Ibn ʿAbbās.

They prostrated only in emulation of the Prophet when he recited the divine command:

“So prostrate to Allah and worship Him.” (53:62)

It is well known that purification is not a condition for every kind of worship; it is required exclusively for the ritual prayer. Likewise, prostration in its generic sense calls for purification in some of its forms—namely the prostration that belongs to the prayer, including the two prostrations of forgetfulness—whereas it is not required for the prostration of recitation, the prostration of gratitude, or the prostration occasioned by extraordinary signs.

What corroborates this is that Allah relates the prostration of the sorcerers when they believed in Moses and expresses His approval of that prostration, even though they were unquestionably without ablution and unfamiliar with it. This shows that a simple prostration offered solely to Allah is indeed an act He loves.