In Shia Islamic tradition, Jesus (Prophet Isa) is revered as one of the greatest prophets and a pinnacle of asceticism (zuhd) and devotion. The specific detail of a 10-hour prostration (Sajdah) is often discussed in the context of the intense worship styles of the prophets and the Imams.
The Concept of the “Long Prostration”
In Shia narrations, particularly those found in Bihar al-Anwar and other collections of Ahl al-Bayt teachings, the “Long Prostration” is a hallmark of the elite worshippers.
- Prophetic Tradition: Narrations describe Jesus as a “wandering” prophet who owned nothing and spent his nights in prayer. It is recorded that he would remain in prostration for so long that his soul seemed to have left his body. While “10 hours” is a common modern way to describe an “entire night” or a “full day,” traditional texts often use phrases like “from sunset to dawn” or “until his skin grew onto the earth.”
- The Intent: These marathons of prayer were not just about physical endurance; they were about achieving fana (annihilation of the self) in the presence of the Divine.
Connection to Shia Practices
This tradition of Jesus is frequently cited by Shia scholars to encourage the practice of Sajdah al-Shukr (the Prostration of Thankfulness) and Sajdah al-Tawil (the Long Prostration).
- Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (Zayn al-Abidin): The fourth Imam is famously known as al-Sajjad (“The one who prostrates a lot”). Many Shia hagiographies draw a direct spiritual line between the intense asceticism of Jesus and the worship habits of Imam al-Sajjad, who would also remain in prostration for many hours.
- Modern Observance: In spiritual retreats like I’tikaf, it is not uncommon for devotees to attempt very long prostrations, following the “Sunnah of the Prophets” like Jesus and Moses.
Spiritual Significance
In Shia theology, the prostration is the closest a servant can be to God. The 10-hour or “all-night” prostration of Jesus serves as a symbol for:
- Total Submission: Placing the highest part of the body (the forehead) on the lowest thing (the earth).
- Spiritual Travel: The belief that the body is stationary but the spirit is “traveling” through divine realms.
While performing a 10-hour prostration is not an obligation for a regular believer, it remains an aspiration of the “Arifin” (those with deep spiritual knowledge) in the Shia tradition, modeled after the extraordinary devotion attributed to Jesus.