Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and then falls down in prostration, the devil retreats, weeps, and says: 'Woe unto him! – In the narration of Abu Kurayb the words are: Woe unto me – the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, so Paradise is for him. However, I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused to, so the Fire is for me.'"
GradingAuthentic hadith
AttributionNarrated by Muslim
Explanation
When someone reads a verse of the Qur’an that requires prostration and then prostrates in compliance with the divine order and out of desire for obeying Allah, the devil goes away from him. He regrets missing such an honor and cries for the damnation and loss that he incurred. He envies the son of Adam, saying: "Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, so Paradise is for him. However, I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused to, so the Fire is for me." Here, he bemoans his situation. He is sad and is subject to ruin. Allah, the Exalted, ordered the son of Adam to prostrate to Him, and the son of Adam obeyed his Lord, so he will be admitted to Paradise. The devil, however, was ordered to prostrate himself for Allah, but he was too arrogant to do so. So Hell is his abode.