Ma‘dān: “Then I met Abū al-Dardā’ and asked him, and he told me the same.”

He also said (1), may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to Rabī‘ah ibn Ka‘b al-Aslamī, who had asked to accompany him in Paradise: “Help me to achieve this for you by prostrating frequently” (2).

According to the sounder view (4), the first surah revealed to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was Surah Iqra’ (“Read”) (3). Allah concluded it with His words: “obey him, and prostrate and draw near” [al-‘Alaq: 19].

They also argued that all creatures, both above and below, prostrate to Allah; that a servant is most humble and submissive before his Lord when prostrating; and that this is the servant’s noblest state. For this reason (5), he is closest to his Lord in this state (6). They further argued that prostration is the very essence of servitude, for servitude means humility and submission. A road is described as mu‘abbad (beaten down), meaning that feet have worn it down and trodden it smooth. Likewise, a servant is most humble and submissive when prostrating.

Another group held that prolonged standing is better at night, while frequent bowing and prostration are better during the day. They argued that night prayer is specifically designated as standing, as in Allah’s words, “Stand in prayer at night” [al-Muzzammil: 2], and the Prophet’s saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward” (7). Hence the expression “standing in prayer at night” is used, whereas “standing in prayer during the day” is not.