Prostration is the act of being humility and the physical action is to move the chin down which will together move the face lower as described in the Quran –
S17:107 Say, “Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it when it is recited to them, they lower (yakhiruu) for the chins in prostration (lilazqani sujadan).
The stages of making humility in prostration is to stand with a lowered chin, then bringing the chin still lower by bending the body is the act of bowing but the humblest action of prostration to show humility is in the manners with the chin at its lowest possible with the forehead touching the ground in submission.
The example of lowering the chin to prostrate in submission –
S37:103 And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead.
The above submission by bringing the chins to the lowest position with the forehead on the ground is prostration reserved only to worship Allah which is the humblest form of prostration.
And Muslims are commanded to worship Allah by prostrating to Him –
S41:37 And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.
S22:77 – O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good that you may succeed.
S7:206 Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.
The Prophet Muhammad A.S did his prostration in worshipping Allah –
S26:219 And thy movements among those who prostrate themselves.
S4:102 And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated upon their foreheads, let them be in position behind you and have the other group come forward which has not prayed and let them pray with you…..
S48:29 Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, but compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and His Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, being the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Taurat; and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, filling the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great reward.
On the other hand, the manners of prostration to show respect but not worshipping is to lower the chin without bending the body as in bowing –
S2:59 And when We said, ‘Enter this town, and eat thereof freely whencesoever you wish, and enter while lowering their chins in prostrating at the gate, and say, ‘‘Relieve [us of the burden of our sins],’’ so that We may forgive your iniquities and We will soon enhance the virtuous.’
S12:100 He raised his parents on the throne and they lower their chins in prostrating themselves before him (Joseph). He said, “This is the meaning of my dream which God has made come true. He has granted me many favors.
S2:34 And when We said to the angels, “lower your chins in prostration before Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
However, those who disbelieved among the Christians, Jews and non ritual Muslims they will reject the action of doing physical humility due for Allah –
S25:60 And when it is said to them, “Prostrate to the Most Merciful,” they say, “And what is the Most Merciful? Should we prostrate to that which you order us?” And it increases them in aversion.
There is therefore the command to prostrate at the humblest manner in worshipping Allah but it cannot be denied that there is also prostration as a gesture to honour and present our respects on other human beings as our social etiquette.
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