Sujunut

Sujunut is the act of prostration in Islam. The term is a transliteration variant of the Arabic sujūd (sujūd) and denotes the act of placing the forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground in submission to God. The gesture appears in the formal ritual prayer and in voluntary prostrations.

In the standard Muslim prayer, each rakʿah includes two prostrations; after rising from the bowing position (ruku), worshippers perform sujūd first, then sit, and then perform a second prostration before continuing to the next rakʿah. Prostration is performed facing the qibla and in a state of ritual cleanliness (wudu). The forehead must touch the ground, with the nose, palms, knees, and toes also contacting the surface.

Beyond the regular prayer, there are several related forms of sujūd. Sujūd al-tilawah, the prostration of recitation, is performed upon reciting or hearing certain verses of the Qur’an. Sujūd al-shukr, the prostration of gratitude, is a voluntary act acknowledging a blessing. Some traditions recognize additional prostrations in specific contexts or occasions.

Linguistically and theologically, sujūd conveys humility before God and serves as a physical expression of submission. Culturally, practices and emphasis may vary by school of thought, region, and language, but the core meaning remains consistent across Islam.