We believe that prostration for other than pure essence of unique Allah is not allowed, because prostration is the extremity of humility and obvious symbol of worship and servitude is only for Allah.
The expression “And for Allah prostrate all who are in heavens and the earth”1, according to precedence of “for Allah” in the sentence, is restrictive and the verse means that all and all existing in heavens and the earth prostrate only for Allah!
Also the sentence “For him they prostrate” in verse 206 of A’raaf Sura is another evidence for restriction of prostration for Allah.
Primarily, prostration is the extremity of humility and is only for Allah and if we prostrate for any other person or thing, then we have placed that equal to Allah for ourselves and this is a false act.
We know “unity in worship” as one of meanings of unity (Tawhid), it means that worship is only for Allah and Tawhid does not complete without that and in other words: Worshiping other than Allah is a branch of polytheism and prostration is a kind of worship, therefore prostrating to other than Allah is not allowed.
But prostration of angles for Adam which has been mentioned it some verses, as commentators have said, had been a prostration in meaning of respect and reverence and glorification, not for worshiping, but the purpose of angles was the thing that I say as a poem:
Adoration is proper to that creator Who can create such a beautiful figure from water and mud Or because prostration was ordered by Allah it was actually servitude of Allah, or it was prostration of gratitude for him.
And prostration of Jacob and his wife and children for Joseph which has been mentioned in Qur'an: “All of them prostrated to him”2, is the same prostration for gratitude or it was in meaning of respect, reverence and glorification.
It is interesting that in the book “Wasael Alshi’aa” which is one of our famous Hadith resources, in chapters for prostration in prayer, there is a chapter with the title “unacceptably of prostration for other than Allah” and it has been quoted seven Ahadith from holy Prophet (s.a.) and infallible Imams (a.s.) in there, that prostration is not allowed for other than Allah.3
Remember this expression well, until we conclude from that in later discussions.
1- Ra’d Sura, verse 15.
2- Yousof (Joseph) Sura, verse 100.
3- Wasael Alshi’aa, vol. 4, page 984.
