As for His words concerning David, peace be upon him:

“He fell down bowing and turned in repentance.”

There is no doubt that he prostrated. The Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslims establish that he prostrated to Allah. Allah, glorified be He, praised him for falling down bowing. This falling down is the beginning of prostration. He thus mentioned the beginning of David’s action—his falling down bowing—to make clear that this is itself an intended act of worship, even though he fell down in order to prostrate. Likewise, He praised the prophets because:

“When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell down in prostration and weeping.”

And He praised “those who were given knowledge before it,” saying that:

“When it is recited to them, they fall down on their chins in prostration,”

and:

“They fall down on their chins, weeping.”

This is because falling down is the beginning of the submission that is incompatible with arrogance. The arrogant person dislikes falling down and prefers always to remain erect and elevated whenever falling down entails abasement, humility, and reverent submission. This is why arrogant people, Arabs and non-Arabs alike, disdain it. If one of them dropped something, he would not pick it up, lest he have to lower himself and bend down.

Falling down means lowering the face and head, the highest and noblest part of a person. A person was created upright and erect; when he lowers his head, especially in prostration, this expresses the utmost abasement. For this reason, prostration is fitting only for Allah. Whoever prostrates to anyone other than Him is a polytheist, and whoever does not prostrate to Him is too arrogant to worship Him. Both are disbelievers, among the people of the Fire.

Allah Most High said:

“Your Lord has said, ‘Call upon Me; I will answer you. Indeed, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell in humiliation.’”

And He said: