Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #69

Which is the more honorable action in prayer, the Qiyaam or the Sujood?

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ * الَّذِي يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ * وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِي السَّاجِدِينَ﴾

{And put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful * Who sees you (O Muhammad) when you stand up (alone at night for Tahajjud prayers) * And your movements among those who fall prostrate (along with you to Allaah in the five compulsory congregational prayers).} [Surah al-Shu`araa’ (26): 217-219]

Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Al-Qiyaam (standing) in the prayer is more honorable than al-Sujood (prostration) due to His تعالى remembrance in it. Al-Sujood is honorable than al-Qiyaam due to its station.

How can al-Qiyaam be better than al-Sujood due to His تعالى remembrance? This is because the remembrance legislated in al-Qiyaam is the recitation of al-Qur’aan. And al-Qur’aan is the best speech (for it is the speech of Allaah, uncreated).

As for al-Sujood, then it is more honorable due to its state; because a person in Sujood is closer to his Lord عز وجل as has been confirmed from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد

“A slave becomes nearest to his Lord when he is in prostration. So increase supplications while prostrating.” [Saheeh Muslim (1428)]

This is the reason why we have been instructed to make much du`aa during al-Sujood.

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/325)]