"I met Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "Tell me of an action that will benefit me or gain me admittance to Paradise.' He remained silent for a while, then he turned to me and said: 'You should prostrate, because I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "There is no one who prostrated once to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, except that Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, and erase one sin thereby." Ma'dan said: "Then I met Abu Ad-Darda' and asked him the same question I had asked Thawban." He said to me: "You should prostrate, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "There is no one who prostrates once to Allah (SWT), but Allah (SWT) will raise him one degree thereby and erase one sin thereby."
The Book of The At-Tatbiq (Clasping One's Hands Together)
Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1139
Hadith Text
"I met Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'Tell me of an action that will benefit me or gain me admittance to Paradise.' He remained silent for a while, then he turned to me and said: 'You should prostrate, because I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "There is no one who prostrated once to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, except that Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, and erase one sin thereby."' Ma'dan said: "Then I met Abu Ad-Darda' and asked him the same question I had asked Thawban." He said to me: "You should prostrate, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "There is no one who prostrates once to Allah (SWT), but Allah (SWT) will raise him one degree thereby and erase one sin thereby."
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith demonstrates the immense virtue of voluntary prostration (sujūd) beyond the obligatory prayers. The Companions' identical response indicates this was a well-established teaching of the Prophet (ﷺ).
The silence of Thawban before answering reflects the seriousness with which the Companions approached religious questions, contemplating the most beneficial response.
The dual benefit mentioned - elevation in rank and expiation of sins - shows how a single sincere prostration combines both spiritual advancement and purification. This applies to prostrations of gratitude, recitation, and other voluntary prostrations.
The repetition by two different Companions emphasizes the reliability and importance of this teaching, encouraging Muslims to increase their voluntary acts of worship, particularly prostration as it represents the ultimate state of submission to Allah.