did you know *PROSTRATION, BOWING, BENDING, KNEELING IN GREETINGS*

Prostration is from the greatest of form of worship and is due only to Allaah alone, and after the Sharee’ah of Islam was revealed, what was permitted in previous nations (of prostration of respect and welcome greeting) was prohibited and declared unlawful, and the Scholars of Islam explain it to be major sin when offered to other than Allaah with the intention of greeting and shirk if done with the intention of worship as they did for Allah.
We should also know that all the creatures do prostrate for Allaah (Tabaaraka wa ta’aalaa) alone as He says in this ayah (interpretation of meaning):
“See you not that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and Ad-Dawâbb [moving (living) creatures, beasts], and many of mankind prostrate themselves to Allâh. But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified. And whomsoever Allâh disgraces, none can honour him. Verily, Allâh does what He wills”. ( Soorah al-Hajj, Q 22V18).
Allaah ( Tabaaraka wa ta’aalaa) also says in the Qur’an (interpretation of meaning):
And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allâh Who created them, if you (really) worship
Him. But if they are too proud (to do so), then there are those who are with your Lord (angels) glorify Him night and day, and never are they tired. ( Soorah Fussilat, Q41V37&38).
We should also know that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa) uses the word “sajdah” to mean bowing or bending which means bowing and
bending are included in the meaning of sujood in Sharee’ah. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa) says (interpretation of meaning):
And (remember) when We said: “Enter this town (Jerusalem) and eat bountifully therein with pleasure and delight wherever you wish, and enter the gate in prostration (i.e. bowing with humility) and say: ‘Forgive us,’ and We shall forgive you your sins and shall increase (reward) for the good-doers.” ( Soorah al-Baqarah, Q2V58).
It is very clear to us in this verse that those people can not enter the gate in a form of sujood that we normally do in Salaat, so it simply means bowing or bending. So when Allaah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa)
prohibits prostration to others, it includes bowing and bending as
indicted in the verse.

✍To be continued Insha-Allah