Humbleness in Prayer

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The prayer of one who does not humble himself in his prayer does not count.

The Prophet (SAWA), when he was asked about humbleness in prayer, said, ‘It is to abase oneself in the prayer, and for the servant to come to his Lord wholeheartedly.

Jaafar b. Ali al-Qummi narrated, ‘When the Prophet (SAWA) used to stand for prayer, his face would become sullen from fear of Allah, the most High.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Man should be humble in his prayer, for verily he whose heart is humble before Allah, Mighty and Exalted, his limbs will humble themselves too and will not fidget around.

It is narrated in Daaaim al-Islam that when Imam Ali (AS) used to stand for prayer, he would be like a fixed structure or a straight pillar, not moving at all, and sometimes when he would bow or prostrate, [he would be so still that] a bird would perch itself on him. Nobody was ever able to match the prayer of the Prophet (SAWA) apart from Ali b. Abi Talib and Ali b. al-Husayn [i.e. Imam Zayn al-Abidin] (AS).

It is narrated in Bihar al-Anwar that when the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (AS) used to start performing his ablution, the colour of his face would change due to the fear of Allah, most High.

It is narrated in Bihar al-Anwar that Fatima al-Zahra (AS) used to pant in her prayer due to fear of Allah, most High.

It is narrated in Bihar al-Anwar that when Imam al-Hasan (AS) used to perform his ablution the colour of his face would change and his joints would tremble. When he was asked about this once, he replied, ‘It is only fitting for one who stands before the Lord of the Throne that his face should change colour and his joints should tremble.

It is narrated in Daaaim al-Islam that when Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) used to perform his ablution and prepare to begin his prayer, his face would become pale and change colour. When asked about this, he replied, ‘Verily I am going to stand before the Great King.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) narrated, ‘When Ali b. al-Husayn (AS) used to stand in his prayer, he was as straight as a tree trunk, and no part of him moved except for that which the wind caused to move.

Abu Aayyub narrated, ‘When Abu Jaafar and Abu Aabdillah [i.e. Imam al-Baqir and Imam al-Sadiq (AS)] used to stand to pray, their faces would change colour, sometimes reddening and sometimes paling, and it was as if they were intimately conversing with someone they could see.