I would like clarification on how to perform the prostration of gratitude and whether ablution is a condition for it?
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The questioner : I would like clarification on how to perform the prostration of gratitude and whether ablution is a condition for it?
The Shaykh : The prostration of gratitude is when a person is blessed by Allah with an unusual, newly occurring blessing, such as being granted a child or being saved from destruction. He prostrates, saying Allahu Akbar upon prostrating, and says, "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High). He thanks Allah for the blessing that has occurred and mentions it in his prostration, saying, "O Allah, to You belongs all praise and gratitude for what You have bestowed upon me of such-and-such or such-and-such." Then he raises his head without saying Allahu Akbar and without saying the closing salam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when news that pleased him reached him, would fall down in prostration to Allah. May Allah send prayers and peace upon him.
As for the requirement that one must be in a state of ritual purity, this is a point of disagreement among scholars. What appears to me is that being in a state of ritual purity is not a condition, because this event sometimes comes suddenly, unexpectedly, and one may not be in a state of ablution. If he goes to perform ablution, the interval between the cause and the effect might become long. So if he prostrates even without being in a state of ritual purity, I hope there is no harm in that.
The questioner : This questioner, may Allah preserve you, O Shaykh, is from Libya.
The Shaykh : The prostration of gratitude is when a person is blessed by Allah with an unusual, newly occurring blessing, such as being granted a child or being saved from destruction. He prostrates, saying Allahu Akbar upon prostrating, and says, "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High). He thanks Allah for the blessing that has occurred and mentions it in his prostration, saying, "O Allah, to You belongs all praise and gratitude for what You have bestowed upon me of such-and-such or such-and-such." Then he raises his head without saying Allahu Akbar and without saying the closing salam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when news that pleased him reached him, would fall down in prostration to Allah. May Allah send prayers and peace upon him.
As for the requirement that one must be in a state of ritual purity, this is a point of disagreement among scholars. What appears to me is that being in a state of ritual purity is not a condition, because this event sometimes comes suddenly, unexpectedly, and one may not be in a state of ablution. If he goes to perform ablution, the interval between the cause and the effect might become long. So if he prostrates even without being in a state of ritual purity, I hope there is no harm in that.
The questioner : This questioner, may Allah preserve you, O Shaykh, is from Libya.