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f:375 -    Performing a prostration on grass
 Country : Hyderabad, India,
Name : Tahir Khalid
Question:     We friends went on a picnic out of the state.  The journey was long.  Many times we had to offer Salaat in such places where there was no Masjid and no people.  Once or twice we also offered Salaat on grass.  We liked doing so, but one of our friends said that Salaat offered on grass in not valid.  This sounded strange to me.  The whole earth belongs to Allah Ta?ala, the why Salaat offered on grass in not valid?
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Answer:     To offer Salaat, it is a condition that the place should be clean.  In Salaat, the prostration (Sajdah) should be offered at such a place that the forehead should touch the ground.  If the place where the prostration is being offered such that the forehead touches the ground and the head does not go down too much then the prostration is valid and with it the Salaat is also valid.

On the other hand, if the place where the prostration is being offered is so soft that the forehead does not touch the ground and the head keeps bobbing, then the prostration (and consequently the Salaat) is also not valid.  However, if one feels the hardness of the surface while prostrating and the head touches the ground and does not bob or move, then the prostration is valid even on grass.

It is mentioned in Radd Ul Muhtaar, Vol. 1, Pg. No: 370:

Translation:  It is necessary that while performing the prostration, one should feel the hardness of the surface, which means that when the person offers the prostration nicely then his (or her) forehead should not go down more than where it was placed.  For this reason, prostration is not correct on grass or on a quilt.  If the person feels the hardness of the surface, then it is correct.

Wherever you offered prostration on grass in your journey, if that place was clean and your forehead touched the ground, then your prostration, and consequently your Salaat, is also valid.  Offering Salaat on such grass is also correct.  However, if the grass was such that your forehead did not touch the ground as stated, then your prostration was not correct and consequently your Salaat is also rendered invalid.

And Allah Most High knows best.

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia
Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]
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