QUESTION:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
Some people say that the dark marks which develops over time on a person (such as forehead and feet) from regular prayers has religious significance. Is this true?
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ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
According to the great scholars and jurists of Islam, the dark marks that develop over time on the fore head and feet of a person from regular Salah, does not have any religious significance. These marks are simply physical in nature, and may appear on the fore head, knees and feet of a person on account of the fact that these parts of the body are regularly placed on the ground, which will naturally bring about marks on the skin. These are only physical in nature and not religious or spiritual.
In the Holy Quran, Allah Has mentioned about the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) in Surah Al Fath and stated, ‘You see them bowing 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. (Surah Fath 48 verse 29)
In this verse, Allah Has mentioned about the Salah of the Sahabahs (companions) and said, ‘The mark of them is on their faces (forehead) from the traces/effects of (their) prostration (sujood)’.
While explaining the mark which is on their fore heads on account of their prostration (sujood), the Mufasireen (expert commentators of the Holy Quran) have explained the following :-
(i) Ikrimah (A.R) and Saeed bin Jubair (A.R) have stated that it is the effect (traces) of the dirt/sand on the forehead. Abul Aaliyah says that this is because they used to do Sujood on the dirt/sand and not on any cloth.
(ii) Atiyah Al Awfi has narrated from Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A) that ‘the mark on the face’ refers to a light and whiteness on their faces on the Day of Judgement. Through this, they would be recognized as those who used to do a lot of Sujood in the world. Ata bin Abi Rabah and Rabee bin Anas (A.R) state that their faces will be illuminated on account of their abundant Salaah. Shahr bin Hawshab (RA) states that the places of Sujood from their faces shall be like the moon on the fourteenth night.
(iii) Ali bin Abi Talha has narrated from Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A) that he said, ‘the mark on their faces’ means a graceful appearance. Mujahid and other exegetes say it means ‘humbleness and reverence’. The great exegete, As Suddi (A.R) says, ‘Salaah brings beauty and goodness to the faces of the believers’.
Some of the pious predecessors have stated, ‘Whoever increases his (optional) Salaah at night, his face shall be beautiful/good during the day’. Some of them have also said, ‘The righteous good deeds bring light to/in the heart, brightness to the face, ampleness in provisions and love in the hearts of people’. (Tafseer Al Baghwi vol.4 pg. 206 Idara Taleefaat Ashrafiya, Multan Pakistan; Tafseer Ibn Katheer vol.5 pg. 575 Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi, Beirut 2013)
Imam Qurtubi, the great exegete has explained that the marks on their faces are the signs of their performance of Tahajjud Salaah at night, and also the signs of wakefulness at night for Ibadah (worship). Ibn Juraij (A.R) explained that it is the signs of dignity and splendidness (radiance) that come on the faces of the believers on account of their constant prostration to Allah.
The great scholar Mansoor, once asked Mujahid (A.R) (the expert exegete of the Holy Quran) if the sign on the face due to excessive Sujood (as mentioned in the above verse) was the mark/effect or impression which is between both eyes (on the forehead) of a believer. Mujahid (A.R) replied to him and said, ‘No. Sometimes between the eyes (on the forehead) of a person, there may be mark (impression) like the knee of a goat (a spot of calloused skin/ a hard thickened area), but that person’s heart is harder than a stone. The true sign/mark of abundant Sujood (prostrations) to Allah is a ‘Noor’ (light) which comes on the faces of the believers on account of their submissiveness to Allah’. (Tafseer Al Qurtubi – Al Jami’ li Ahkam Al Quran vol. 16 pg. 249 Maktaba Rasheediya Queta).
All of the above are the most authentic and reliable explanations of the verse which speaks about the mark on the fore head which comes about on account of frequent prostration (sujood). The above shows that the dark marks that appear on the fore head and other parts of the body, do not have any religious significance, nor are these an indication that one is pious/righteous.
These dark marks develop only on account of the frequent touching of these parts of the body, especially to the ground. It is often seen that one who is very punctual/regular in performing Fardh (compulsory) and Nawafil (optional) Salah may not have any mark on his fore head, and it is also seen that one who performs a small number of Salah may have these dark marks.
Thus, these dark marks bear no religious significance, and is also not an indication that one is very punctual in his Salah. The texture of the skin in each person is different from the other, while one person’s skin may be imprinted with a mark very fast, it may not happen to another person.
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
05/12/2024