QUESTION

Is it permissible to prostrate upon only one hand while the other one carries a baby?

ANSWER by Shaykh Muhammad 'Umar Baazmool, instructor at Umm Al-Quraa University in Makkah

In the hadeeth of Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), [ the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: ]

"I have been ordered to prostrate upon seven body parts - the forehead and nose, the two palms, the two knees, and the toes of the two feet." [1]

So to prostrate upon only one palm while the other carries a child would be permissible due to a necessity, however I can not imagine how someone could carry a baby while prostrating.

Anyway, the basic rule here is that it is obligatory for the one praying to place both hands on the ground, and if he needs to raise one of them due to some need, then that would be permissible, and Allaah knows best.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #809 (2/360 of Fat-hul-Baaree)

SOURCE

This was translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net from a cassette recording with the knowledge and permission of the shaykh, file no. AAMB030, dated 1423/7/25. This answer was then updated based on an e-mail received from the shaykh, dated 1423/10/11.

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