سورة الإسراء

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): O Aba Dharr! Whenever someone is given knowledge that does not bring him to tears, truly he has been given knowledge that does not benefit him. For Allah praises the scholars thus: إِنَّ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ إِذا یُتْلی عَلَیْهِمْ یَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقانِ سُجَّداً وَ یَقُولُونَ سُبْحانَ رَبِّنا إِنْ کانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنا لَمَفْعُولًا وَ یَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقانِ یَبْکُونَ وَ یَزِیدُهُمْ خُشُوعا [Surely those who are given the knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, they fall down on their faces prostrating, and they say: Glory be to our Lord! most surely the promise of our Lord was to be fulfilled. And they fall down on their faces weeping, and it adds to their humility].

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): إِنَّ الَّذِینَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ [Surely those who are given the knowledge before it]; meaning those of the People of the Book who believed in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family).

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): إِنَّ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ [Surely those who are given the knowledge before it]; meaning those who were given the knowledge of the Torah before the Quran, such as Abdullah ibn Salam and others, who knew the characteristics of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) before his prophetic mission.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) was asked about a man who has a wound or ailment on his forehead and is unable to prostrate on it — what should he do? He said: 'He should place his chin on the ground, for Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: یَخِرُّونَ لِلأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا [They fall down on their faces (chins) prostrating].'

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Ishaq ibn Ammar said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "A man has a wound between his eyes and cannot prostrate on it, [what should he do]?" He said: "He should prostrate on the part [of his forehead] which is close to the hairline, and if he cannot, then on his right eyebrow, and if he cannot, then on his left eyebrow, and if he cannot, then on his chin." I said: "On his chin?!" He said: "Yes! Have you not read that Allah says: يَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا [they fall down on their chins prostrating]?"

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Whenever there is a sickness or ailment on your forehead because of which you cannot prostrate, in that case prostrate on the right side of your forehead, and whenever you cannot prostrate on the right side of your forehead either, prostrate on the left side of your forehead — that is, place the left side of your forehead on the ground — and if you cannot prostrate on that either, prostrate on the back of your hand, and whenever you cannot prostrate on that either, then place your chin on the ground, because Allah the Mighty and Majestic has said in the Glorious Quran: إِنَّ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ إِذا یُتْلی عَلَیْهِمْ یَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقانِ سُجَّدا [Indeed those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down on their chins prostrating].

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): إِذَا یُتْلَی عَلَیْهِمْ یَخِرُّونَ لِلأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا [when it is recited to them, they fall down on their chins prostrating] — that is, upon the face and countenance.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): إِذا یُتْلی عَلَیْهِمْ یَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقانِ سُجَّداً [when it is recited to them, they fall down on their chins prostrating]; they fall to the ground on their faces and prostrate.