Does Prostrating to Release Negative Energy Invalidate the Prayer?

Bowing in prostration to release energy is an act of associating partners with God. In that case, one is not prostrating to God, but to oneself.

Prayer must not be appropriated for any purpose other than worship and servitude to God.

On closer examination, the idea of releasing negative energy through prostration is not free from mischief.

1. In Hindu tradition, the locations of the chakras do not correspond to the seven points of contact in prostration.

2. In the normal posture of prostration, no part of the body other than the forehead touches bare earth. Of course, the forehead does not touch the ground directly when it rests on earth or on a prayer tablet. In fact, there is no requirement for the body to touch bare, untouched ground during prostration.

3. There were no harmful waves 1,400 years ago; and in the future, at the time of the Awaited One’s ظهور, the earth will again be cleansed of disruptive waves.

4. Prayer undoubtedly brings countless benefits and blessings, and prostration is no exception. But linking it to the release of harmful energy diminishes the worth of prayer.

5. Idolaters, too, undoubtedly prostrate before their idols and lords, and the idea of releasing energy could apply to them as well. So let us be careful not to let those who play games make playthings of our acts of worship.

طه : 14 إننی‏ أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا فاعبدنی‏ و أقم الصلاه لذکری

“Indeed, I am God. There is no deity but Me, so worship Me and establish prayer in remembrance of Me.”

All rites and religious obligations are undoubtedly sources of abundant good and blessings. They must be performed beautifully and correctly for their secondary blessings to become manifest.

But it takes only a shift in intention—from fulfilling an obligation to seeking its beneficial effects—for that obligation to lose its devotional character.

In the latter case, it would be enough for someone to bow with the intention of correcting their back for a monotheistic prayer to become associating partners with God and worship of the self!

Preserving, strengthening and restoring health are necessary for worship and among the principles of servitude to God; there is no dispute about this. The healthier one is, the more vigorous one’s worship becomes. This is self-evident.

If bowing, prostration or any other prescribed act of worship is performed with the intention of attaining physical health, that is outright disbelief.

If religious obligations and worship are performed with the intention both of worshipping God and of attaining physical health, that is outright association of partners with God.

Worship performed solely to worship God and express sincere servitude, without regard to any other consideration, is worship in true monotheism.