for prostration. This is the position of most scholars. Likewise, one proclaims Allah’s greatness when raising one’s head from prostration.” He said:

“Al-Shāfi‘ī and Ahmad held that one should raise one’s hands when about to prostrate. Ibn Sīrīn and ‘Atā’ held that one should give the salutation after raising one’s head from prostration. This was also the position of Ishāq ibn Rāhawayh.”

He said:

“The Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were cited in support of their position: ‘Its opening proclamation of Allah’s greatness renders other actions forbidden, and its closing salutation renders them lawful again.’ Ahmad knew of no salutation in this case—or, in another wording, did not hold that a salutation should be given.”

I say:

This argument holds for them only if such prostration falls within the meaning of prayer. They may, however, use it against someone who concedes that it is prayer, thereby showing his position to be inconsistent. Al-Bukhārī narrated Ibn ‘Umar’s hadith in his Sahīh, but it contains no mention of proclaiming Allah’s greatness. Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would recite to us a surah containing a verse of prostration. He would prostrate, and we would prostrate, until none of us could find a spot for his forehead.” In another wording: “until none of us could find room for his forehead.”

Thus, Ibn ‘Umar reported that they used to prostrate with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, without mentioning any salutation. Ibn ‘Umar himself would prostrate without ablution. It is well known that, had the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explained to his Companions that prostration could only be performed with ablution, this would have been generally known among them, because all of them