The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bones i.e. on the forehead along with the tip of the nose and the Prophet (ﷺ) pointed towards his nose, both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet and not to gather the clothes or the hair."
The Seven Bones of Prostration
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book: Call to Prayers, Hadith 812) establishes the proper manner of prostration (sujūd) in prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly mentions seven bodily parts that must touch the ground during prostration, demonstrating the completeness and physical humility required in worship.
Scholarly Commentary on the Seven Points
Forehead with Nose: Classical scholars like Imam Nawawi emphasize that both forehead and nose must make contact with the ground. The nose serves as a verification that the forehead is properly lowered, preventing mere token touching. This dual contact ensures full submission of the most honored part of the body.
Both Hands: The palms should be placed flat on the ground with fingers directed toward the qiblah. Scholars note this position symbolizes complete reliance upon Allah and reflects the posture of the angels who prostrate with their entire beings.
Both Knees: The knees must firmly touch the prayer surface. Ibn Qudamah in Al-Mughni states this ensures stability in the prostration position and represents the servant's weakness and need for divine support.
Toes of Both Feet: The toes should be bent with their tips touching the ground, directed toward the qiblah. This completes the seven points and maintains the proper elevated position of the feet during sujūd.
Prohibition Against Gathering Clothes or Hair
The final prohibition carries profound wisdom. Scholars explain that gathering one's garments or hair during prayer indicates hastiness and lack of tranquility. Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes this action contradicts the required khushū' (devotional presence) and may lead to invalidating the prayer if it becomes excessive movement.
This teaching ensures the worshipper maintains complete focus on Allah without concern for worldly appearances, embodying the essence of submission where even one's physical presentation is surrendered to divine command.