The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Surat-an-Najm (53) and prostrated while reciting it and all the people prostrated and a man amongst the people took a handful of stones or earth and raised it to his face and said, "This is sufficient for me. Later on I saw him killed as a non-believer."
Context and Significance
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1070 describes a profound incident during the Prophet's recitation of Surah an-Najm in Mecca, where the entire congregation performed prostration. This demonstrates the obligatory nature of sajdah at-tilawah when reciting or hearing specific Qur'anic verses containing prostrations.
The Incident Explained
The man who took a handful of stones or earth performed a mock prostration, merely bringing the dirt to his forehead instead of properly placing his forehead on the ground. This act revealed the hypocrisy in his heart - outwardly appearing to follow while inwardly rejecting.
His statement "This is sufficient for me" indicates his intention to deceive the Muslims around him while maintaining his disbelief. This incident serves as a powerful lesson about the danger of nifaq (hypocrisy) in matters of worship.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars emphasize that the proper performance of sajdah requires the forehead to touch the ground directly, as the Prophet taught. The man's innovation of using stones or earth invalidated his prostration and exposed his insincerity.
His eventual death as a non-believer confirms that Allah exposes hypocrites in due time. This serves as a warning against performing acts of worship for show while concealing disbelief in the heart.
Legal Rulings
The scholars derive from this hadith that sajdah at-tilawah is obligatory upon both the reciter and listener. They also affirm that proper prostration requires physical contact of the forehead with the ground, not merely symbolic gestures.
This incident also establishes that outward conformity without inward belief is worthless in the sight of Allah, and such hypocrisy will ultimately be exposed.