—or words to that effect—Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said.

Moreover, an authentic report from Jābir records that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, once led his Companions in prayer while he was seated because of an illness; they, however, remained standing. He ordered them to sit and declared, “Do not venerate me as the non-Arabs venerate one another.” He also said, “Whoever is pleased that people stand up for him should prepare for his seat in the Fire.”

If he forbade them—while he himself was sitting, even though they had risen for the prayer—lest they imitate those who stand in honor of their dignitaries, and if he explained that anyone who delights in being stood for belongs to the people of Hell, then how much more blameworthy are acts that involve prostrating to a person, placing one’s head on the ground, or kissing hands? ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, may Allah be pleased with him—while he was Allah’s caliph on earth—actually appointed officials whose task was to prevent such practices.