Likewise, there is the account of the angels, all of them without exception, prostrating to Adam, and of the curse upon the one who refused to prostrate to him. This bestowed honor and dignity upon Adam.

Some foolish people have said: “The prostration was only to Allah, and Adam was made their direction of prayer, so that they prostrated toward him just as one prostrates toward the Ka‘bah. This does not establish his superiority over them, just as prostrating toward the Ka‘bah does not establish its superiority over a believer in Allah’s sight. Indeed, a believer’s sanctity is greater in Allah’s sight than that of the Ka‘bah.” They also said: “Prostrating to anyone other than Allah is forbidden; indeed, it is disbelief.”

The answer is that the prostration was to Adam, by Allah’s command and as an obligation He imposed, according to the consensus of all whose opinions carry weight. Several points demonstrate this:

First, He said “to Adam,” not “toward Adam.” Each preposition has its own meaning, and the language distinguishes between saying “I prostrated to him” and “I prostrated toward him.” As Allah Most High says:

“Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, who created them, if it is Him that you worship.”

And He says:

“To Allah prostrate all those in the heavens and the earth.”

Muslims unanimously agree that prostrating to anyone other than Allah is forbidden. As for the Ka‘bah, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to pray toward Jerusalem, then prayed toward the Ka‘bah. He would pray toward a short spear—not ‘to a short spear’—and toward a tree trunk—not ‘to a trunk’ or ‘to a tree.’ One who prostrates to something submits and humbles himself before it in his heart. By contrast, one who prostrates toward something merely turns his face and body toward it outwardly, just as he turns his face toward some