Section IX: Prostration

Firstly: Ruling of prostration
Prostration is one of the integral obligations of prayer. Consensus on the wajib nature of prostration was related by Ibn `Abd al-Barr, al-Nawawi, Ibn Hazm, Ibn Qudamah, and Ibn Taymiyyah.

Secondly: Number of prostrations in every unit of prayer
Two prostrations are wajib in every unit of prayer. Consensus on this was related by Ibn Hazm, al-Haytami, and al-Ramli.

Thirdly: The body parts of prostration
It is wajib to prostrate using seven body parts: the forehead with the nose, [368] Some excluded the nose. Ibn Qudamah says: “Prostrating on all body parts is wajib except for the nose, for there is a difference of opinion regarding it.” (Al-Mughni, 1/370) both hands, both knees, and both feet. This is the position of the Hanbali school and the most authentic position of the Shafi`i school. [369] Except for the nose, for the position of their school is that it is not wajib to prostrate upon it. It is also a position within the Maliki school, [370] The obligation of prostrating on the nose is the position of Ibn Habeeb of the Maliki school. and was selected by Ibn Hazm, Ibn Baz, and Ibn `Uthaymin.

Fourthly: What is sunnah in prostration 
- How to descend:
Scholars are of two positions regarding whether to go down hands first or knees first when descending for prostration:
The first position: It is sunnah to place the knees on the ground before the hands when going down to prostrate. This is the position of the majority: the Hanafis, Shafi`is, and Hanbalis. The majority of the scholars practice this position. It is the chosen position of Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Baz, and Ibn `Uthaymin.
The second position: It is sunnah to place the hands on the ground before the knees. This is the position of the Maliki school, one narration from Ahmad, and the position of al-Awza`i, Hadith specialists, and al-Albani. How to stand up after prostrating
- There are two positions regarding how to stand up after prostrating:
The first position: It is sunnah to lift the hands before the knees when standing up after prostrating unless doing so is difficult, in which case one supports oneself with their hands when rising. This is the position of the Maliki and Hanbali schools as well as Dawud al-Zahiri. It is the chosen position of Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Baz, and Ibn `Uthaymin.
The second position: It is sunnah to rise while supporting oneself with one’s hands. This is the position of the Maliki and Shafi`i schools as well as a group of the Salaf. Al-Albani chose this position. 
- Leaving a gap between the thighs and lifting the belly away from them when prostrating:
It is sunnah [371] Scholars have differed regarding whether a woman is like a man in this regard or if her prostration is performed in a different manner. to leave a gap between the thighs and lift the belly away from them when prostrating. This is by agreement between the four schools of jurisprudence. 
- Where to place one’s hands when prostrating:
It is sunnah to place the hands parallel to the shoulders [372] This is the position of the Shafi`i and Hanbali schools. or ears [373] This is the position of the Hanafi school, and was related from some of the Salaf. when prostrating. This is the position of the Maliki [374] According to them, they are placed parallel to the ears or close to them. school and was chosen by Ibn Qudamah, Ibn Baz, and Ibn `Uthaymin. 
- Lifting the forearms off the ground when prostrating:
It is sunnah to lift the forearms off the ground when prostrating. It is makruh to lay the forearms flat on the ground during its performance. This is by agreement of the four schools of jurisprudence. Pointing the toes towards the qiblah
It is sunnah to point the toes towards the qiblah during prostration. This is by agreement of the four schools of jurisprudence. 
- Sunnah supplications when prostrating:
A number of supplications to say during prostration have been transmitted, including:
a) Glorified be my Lord, the Exalted.
b) Most Glorified! Most Holy! Lord of the angels and the spirit!
c) Glorified be You, O Allah, and praised. O Allah! Forgive me.
d) O Allah! I hereby prostrate myself before You, believe in You, and submit myself to You. My face has prostrated itself before The One Who created it and fashioned it, and cleaved open its faculties of hearing and seeing. Glory be to Allah, the best of creators!
- The merit of supplicating during prostration:
It is mustahabb to supplicate when prostrating. Received supplications to say when prostrating O Allah, forgive me all of my sins, small and great, first and last, what was done openly and what was done in private. O Allah, forgive me what I have done in private and in public. O Allah! Put light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light on my right, light on my left, light ahead of me, light behind me, light above me, light below me, and grant me light. O Allah! I seek protection in Your pleasure from Your wrath, in Your amnesty from Your punishment, and I seek protection in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself.