The Value of One Prostration: Understanding the Hadith in Surah An-Nisa

One Prostration Better Than the World: Unpacking the Meaning of the Hadith

Question: In the interpretation of Surah An-Nisa, verse 159, it is mentioned under a hadith that one prostration will be better than everything in the world. What does this mean here?

Answer: This hadith is found in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith number: 3448). The hadith is as follows: Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the time is near when Jesus, the son of Mary, will descend among you as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the jizya (tax). Wealth will be in such abundance that no one will accept it. At that time, a single prostration will be better than the world and what it contains.”

In this hadith, it is mentioned regarding the end times that when Jesus (peace be upon him) will descend, “one prostration will be better than the world and what it contains.” Scholars have explained this to mean that at that time, wealth and riches will be so abundant that people will not pay attention to them and will not care about them. Therefore, the means of attaining closeness to Allah will not be through wealth but through physical acts of worship, and even one prostration will hold great importance. This means that the significance of physical worship will greatly increase at that time.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (may Allah preserve him)

 ❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy As-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫