Sajda shukr and tawba

Can a prostration of thanks (sajda shukr) or repentance be made in a state of:

a. ritual impurity i.e. you’re in a state that requires taking a ghusl
b. no wudhu (but you’re ritually pure)
c. having impurity on clothes or body of the amount that affects the validity of salat

Jazakallah Khairan

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Sajda (prostration) is a fundamental component of salat. All the prerequisites that apply to salat also apply when performing sajda outside of salat, such as when performing sajda shukr (prostration of gratitude) and sajda tilawa (prostration performed after reciting a verse of prostration). Therefore, the following are prerequisites for performing prostration of gratitude: having wudu, not being in a state of janaba (ritual impurity), for the clothes and body to be from impurity (excluding the forgivable amount), covering of the ‘aurah (those parts of the body that must be covered) and facing the Qibla.

Therefore, it will not be permissible to perform prostration of gratitude in the three states that you mentioned. [1]

Also, note that prostration of gratitude is only mustahab (praiseworthy) when one is endowed with a new bounty. In normal circumstances, it is neither mustahab nor makrooh. To perform prostration of gratitude or any other prostration, such as sajda tilawa (prostration performed after reciting a verse of prostration), immediately after salat when there are others present is makrooh. In the absence of others, performing prostration of gratitude or sajda tilawa after salat is permissible with the conditions that one does not consider it to be sunnah or mustahab and that he does not make it a habit. [2]

(Ahsanul Fatawa: 3/25, Saeed)

There is no such thing as prostration of repentance in Shariah. There is an optional salat called salat at-tauba (the prayer of repentance). This prayer is offered like any other optional prayer. [3]

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Faizal Riza