perform two prostrations after witr.” So they did so (1). The hadith narrated by Muslim in his Sahīh states:

“He used to pray two units of prayer after witr while seated, but did not do so regularly.”

Thus, the two units of prayer were called “two prostrations,” as in other hadiths. This, then, is the origin of that practice. These two units of prayer are discussed elsewhere.

As for the two prostrations, there is no basis for them, nor for prostration on its own without a reason. The scholars have called it an innovation. What, then, of prostrating towards a created being without observing the conditions of prayer? This resembles someone who prostrates eastwards in a church with the Christians and says, “It is for Allah,” or prostrates with the Jews towards the Rock and says, “It is for Allah.” Indeed, the Christians’ and Jews’ prostration to Allah, even though directed elsewhere than the Muslims’ qiblah, is better than prostration to anyone other than Allah.

Rather, this is like those who prostrate to the sun at sunrise and sunset, or to certain stars and idols, and say, “It is for Allah.”

Section

As for corrupting children—by teaching a child to beg and preventing him from earning a lawful living, or taking him out in his town with his hair uncovered … (2) among the people—this warrants