What is the ruling if a person prostrates while their forehead is covered by a cap or a turban?

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Prayer, like other acts of worship, requires integrals and conditions to be valid. Among these integrals is sujud (prostration), which must be performed correctly for the prayer itself to be valid. For the prostration to be considered correct, it is necessary that the worshipper places their forehead, either entirely or partially, on the ground uncovered.

Therefore, what is the ruling if a worshipper wears something on their head like the qalansuwah -commonly referred to as the taqiyyah-, a cap, a turban, or something similar that extends down to cover their forehead during prostration? And what is the ruling on the prayer if this covering conceals the entire forehead or part of it? Below is a detailed explanation of this ruling.

The meaning of sujud (prostration) and its conditions in prayer

One of the integrals of prayer is to perform sujud (prostration) twice in each rak^ah (unit of prayer). In Islamic law, sujud is defined as placing the forehead, the knees, and other relevant parts on the ground.

Conditions for the Validity of sujud (Prostration)

1. Applying Pressure with the Forehead: The forehead should be pressed firmly on the ground to the extent that if there were cotton underneath, it would compress under the head.
2. Positioning the Head Lower than the Body: This entails lowering the head while raising the rear part of the body.
3. Placing Parts of the Body on the Ground: A portion of the knees, the palms of the hands, and the undersides of the toes must be placed on the ground, even if they are not exposed, such as when wearing gloves or socks.
4. Absence of External Factors: Prostration must not occur due to an external factor. For instance, if someone falls on their face unintentionally or in fright, this does not count as valid sujud.
5. Tranquility in Prostration: During both prostrations, his body parts should remain still for a moment that distinctly separates the sujud from what follows it. Scholars have estimated this period to be as long as it takes to say "Subhana l-Lah."
6. Uncovered Forehead: The prostration must be performed with an uncovered forehead.

Detailed Condition for an uncovered forehead during sujud

It is not valid for a person to prostrate on anything that moves with them as they stand or sit, meaning any item that shifts along with them when they rise or sit, such as a cap (qalansuwah, also known as taqiyyah), turban, winter hat, or other types of hats, or a headband that covers the forehead. Rather, the forehead must be either fully or partially uncovered, and the prostration should be performed on the uncovered part.

If a person knowingly and intentionally prostrates on such an item, aware of its prohibition, their prayer is invalidated. However, if they were unaware, their prayer remains valid, but they are required to repeat the prostration with an uncovered forehead to ensure its correctness.

Conclusion

Matters such as these underscore the importance of seeking knowledge and deepening one’s understanding. In Sahih al-Bukhariyy, it is narrated that a man once entered the mosque and performed the outward form of prayer without fulfilling its integrals and conditions. The Prophet ﷺ saw him and instructed him three times to repeat his prayer. Finally, the man said, "By Allah, this is all I know, O Messenger of Allah." In response, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Teach your brother." In another narration, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ personally taught him.

This guidance from the Prophet ﷺ indicates that the way to ensure the correctness of the prayer is through its completion by fulfilling its conditions and integrals. It also points to the fact that the way to guarantee the fulfillment of these conditions and integrals is through knowledge — by learning what these conditions and integrals entail. This is the remedy derived from these Prophetic instructions. Thus, every Muslim should take the initiative to learn the matters of their faith.

Allah ta^ala knows best and is the most Wise, and all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

Sources:

These matters are compiled and summarised from:

• The Noble Qur’an.
• The Prophetic Sunnah.
• Sahih al-Bukhariyy.
• Rawdatu t-Talibin wa ^umdatu l-Muftin by Imam An-Nawawiyy.
• Fathu l-Wahhab bi-sharhi Manhaji t-tullab by Shaykh Zakariyya Al-‘Ansariyy.
• Sharhu bni l-Qasim al-Ghazziyy ^ala Matni ‘Abi Shuja^.