Is it established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated in the Fajr of Friday? And where is that established?
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The questioner : May Allah bless our distinguished Shaykh, preserve him, and make the Muslims benefit from him. The first question: Is it established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated in the Fajr of Friday, and where is that established, if it is indeed established?
The Shaykh : Of course, this is preserved in *Sahih Muslim*.
The questioner : I mean, did he prostrate in the Fajr of Friday?
The Shaykh : Yes.
It is well known: In *Sahih Muslim*, he recited the prostration verse.
The questioner : But is the prostration itself established?
The Shaykh : Yes, you are asking about the prostration?
The questioner : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : It does not come to mind right now, but what is behind this question? If we assume it is not established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated in the Fajr of Friday, or in the morning of Friday, what is the jurisprudential implication of this?
The questioner : That I recite the prostration verse but do not prostrate.
The Shaykh : Is there a difference between a prostration verse being recited on Friday or on any other day of the week?
The questioner : There is no difference.
The Shaykh : So? We have not obtained anything. What is the benefit of directing this specific question to the Fajr of Friday?
The questioner : Because some people have become accustomed to the Imam reciting the surahs of prostration and al-Dahr, and the Imam prostrates when he recites the prostration verse. If he does not prostrate, it is as if he has committed a violation.
The Shaykh : Reciting the two surahs is known from the Sunnah, but prostration, in itself, is a prescribed matter and is not among the obligations for which one who leaves the prostration for a prostration verse commits a sin. It came in *Sahih al-Bukhari* that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) gave a sermon on Friday and recited a prostration verse, so he prostrated and the people prostrated. Then in another sermon, he also recited a prostration verse, and the people were about to prepare to prostrate, so he said to them, "Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has not commanded us to prostrate except that we may do so if we wish." So this is a text declared by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab in the presence of the people that prostration of recitation is not obligatory, but rather a recommended practice. If the one who prostrates wishes to draw near to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, by prostrating to Him, that is better for him. If he does not do so, there is no sin on him. And this applies even if the prostration verse is during the prayer; he has the option to prostrate, and that is better for him, and he has the option not to prostrate. We see from the perspective of Shari'ah policy that what is of this nature in the rulings of the Shari'ah—meaning, where doing it is permissible and leaving it is permissible, even though doing it is better—so that it does not settle in the minds of people that prostration is an obligation that must be performed, the Imam should sometimes leave this prostration, even though performing it is better than leaving it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Of course, this is preserved in *Sahih Muslim*.
The questioner : I mean, did he prostrate in the Fajr of Friday?
The Shaykh : Yes.
It is well known: In *Sahih Muslim*, he recited the prostration verse.
The questioner : But is the prostration itself established?
The Shaykh : Yes, you are asking about the prostration?
The questioner : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : It does not come to mind right now, but what is behind this question? If we assume it is not established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated in the Fajr of Friday, or in the morning of Friday, what is the jurisprudential implication of this?
The questioner : That I recite the prostration verse but do not prostrate.
The Shaykh : Is there a difference between a prostration verse being recited on Friday or on any other day of the week?
The questioner : There is no difference.
The Shaykh : So? We have not obtained anything. What is the benefit of directing this specific question to the Fajr of Friday?
The questioner : Because some people have become accustomed to the Imam reciting the surahs of prostration and al-Dahr, and the Imam prostrates when he recites the prostration verse. If he does not prostrate, it is as if he has committed a violation.
The Shaykh : Reciting the two surahs is known from the Sunnah, but prostration, in itself, is a prescribed matter and is not among the obligations for which one who leaves the prostration for a prostration verse commits a sin. It came in *Sahih al-Bukhari* that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) gave a sermon on Friday and recited a prostration verse, so he prostrated and the people prostrated. Then in another sermon, he also recited a prostration verse, and the people were about to prepare to prostrate, so he said to them, "Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has not commanded us to prostrate except that we may do so if we wish." So this is a text declared by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab in the presence of the people that prostration of recitation is not obligatory, but rather a recommended practice. If the one who prostrates wishes to draw near to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, by prostrating to Him, that is better for him. If he does not do so, there is no sin on him. And this applies even if the prostration verse is during the prayer; he has the option to prostrate, and that is better for him, and he has the option not to prostrate. We see from the perspective of Shari'ah policy that what is of this nature in the rulings of the Shari'ah—meaning, where doing it is permissible and leaving it is permissible, even though doing it is better—so that it does not settle in the minds of people that prostration is an obligation that must be performed, the Imam should sometimes leave this prostration, even though performing it is better than leaving it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
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The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.