Turbah

A turbah (Arabic: تربة, lit.'soil'), or mohr (Persian: مهر, lit.'seal'), also known as khāk-e shefā (Persian: خاکِ شِفا, lit.'medicinal soil', also used in Urdu) and sejde gāh (Persian: سجدہ گاہ, lit.'place of prostration', also used in Urdu), is a small piece of soil or clay, often a clay tablet, used during salat (Arabic: صلاة, lit.'Islamic daily prayers') to symbolize earth.[1] The use of a turbah is recommended (Arabic: مُسْتَحَبّ, romanizedmustahabb, lit.'beloved') according to the Twelver Shia school of Islam, a unique practice of the sect, and many ahadith mention the benefits of prostration (Arabic: سجدة, romanizedsajdah) upon soil or an alternative natural material. The most recommended soil is that of Karbala, the site of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn 'Ali; however, soil from anywhere may be used. In the absence of soil, plants or items made from these may be substituted. This provision has been extended to include paper.[2]

Following instruction from the Qur’an, the Shia Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq stated that "prostration must be performed on pure earth or what grows on it, provided that it is not eaten or worn." (like leaves, wood, stone/marble so on). For example, prostration on paper is permissible because it is made of natural elements grown on earth.[3]

  1. ^ Orr, Francine (26 November 2001). "Sharing the Faith, Spreading the Word". Los Angeles Times. pp. E2.
  2. ^ Fontan, Victoria (2008). Voices from post-Saddam Iraq: living with terrorism, insurgency, and new forms of tyranny. ABC-CLIO. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-313-36532-4.
  3. ^ Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. "In A Nutshell: Laws and Practices." 1 April 2010. <www.al-islam.org>.