Is it permissible to prostrate on long hair?
My hair is very long and it comes down to my forehead when I perform prayers. Almost all of my forehead touches my hair; does it prevent my prayer?
Dear Brother / Sister,
Sajdah (prostration) is made on something that touches the ground. It is necessary for the forehead to feel the hardness of the ground. Therefore, if a person prostrates on soft things like grass, hay, wool, cotton and snow, etc. on the ground, if the gaps in them disappear and if he does not feel the hardness of the ground, his sajdah is not valid.
It is permissible to prostrate on palms or some part of the garment due to an excuse like the heat or dirtiness of the ground.
The place to prostrate must not be higher than a hand-span from the place where the feet are. However, it is permissible to perform prostration on one’s knees or on the back of the person in front of him due to multitude of people or another excuse.
Accordingly, if the hair is very long and it comes down to the forehead in prostration, the prayer is valid. However, it is necessary for the forehead to feel the hardness of the ground. This is valid for men. Women have to cover their hair in prayer.
It is necessary for at least half of the forehead to touch a hard surface during prostration.
Questions on Islam
- How should the place to prostrate on be? On what things is it permissible to prostrate?
- Does lifting the foot from the ground while in prostration invalidate prayer? Is it necessary to keep the big toe of the right foot on the ground during prostration only or throughout the prayer?
- What should the position of the feet be like in prayer (while standing, sitting and prostration)?
- Is It true that arms and elbows must not touch the ground in prostration?
- How hard or soft should the place to prostrate on be? Is it permissible to prostrate on sponge?
- Is it permissible to prostrate on a stone or seal?
- The Principles of Prayer
- What should we do if there are some obstacles in the place of sajdah (prostration) while performing a prayer? What proportion of the forehead must touch the ground?
- How should the position of prostration be? Is it necessary to bend the body fully or is it enough to keep a bit clear?
- Is prayer invalidated if the top part of the feet are placed on the ground in prostration?
