Q 9: What is the description of the Salah of thankfulness to Allah (Exalted be He)? What are its Rukns (integral pillars) and conditions?

A: Sujud-ul-Shukr (Prostration of Thankfulness to Allah) is Islamically recommended for whatever is pleasing, whether to thank Allah for some benefit that He bestowed or for some harm that He kept away. Many Hadiths and Athar (narrations from the Companions) indicate this, among which is the Hadith narrated by Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) received something good or heard any good news, he (peace be upon him) would fall down prostrating in thankfulness to Allah (Exalted be He). (Part No. 7; Page No. 266)  (Related by Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, and Ibn Majah) Al-Tirmidhy said: "It is Hassan Gharib (a good Hadith that is strange to come from this chain of narration)." According to the wording reported by Ahmad: He (Abu Bakrah) saw that the Prophet (peace be upon him) upon receiving the glad tidings of his troops' victory over the enemy, was lying with his head resting on the lap of `Aishah; he (peace be upon him) got up and fell in prostration. There is also the Hadith narrated by `Abdul-Rahman ibn `Awf, who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) went out to the place where Sadaqah (voluntary charity) was kept, and upon entering he prostrated for a long time. Then he raised his head and said, 'Jibril (Gabriel) came to me with the good news that Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He) says (to me): Anyone who sends blessings on you, I will send blessings on them, and anyone who sends greetings of peace to you, I will send greetings of peace to them,' so I prostrated in thankfulness to Allah. (Related by Ahmad) Al-Mundhiry said: "The Hadith of Sujud-ul-Shukr is based on the narration of Al-Bara', through authentic Isnad (chain of narrators), in addition to that of Ka`b ibn Malik and others)." As for the Athars (narrations from the Companions), Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) offered Sujud-ul-Shukr when he received the news of the execution of Musaylimah, the Liar, as related by Sa`id ibn Mansur in his Sunan (Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes). Also `Aly (Part No. 7; Page No. 267) (may Allah be pleased with him) prostrated when he found Dhul-Thudayyah among the (dead) Al-Khawarij (separatist group that believes committing a major sin amounts to disbelief), as related by Ahmad in his Musnad (Hadith compilation). Moreover, Ka`b ibn Malik prostrated in the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was given the glad tidings that Allah accepted his repentance. Authenticity of the story is agreed upon.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.