All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
In principle, in the prostration, the forehead should touch the ground or the prayer rug directly without any additional medium. However, if the worshipper faces some difficulties in doing so due to intense heat or cold, it is allowable for him to spread his garment and prostrate over it. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "We used to pray with the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in scorching heat and, if one of us could not put his forehead on the ground (because of the intense heat), then he would spread his garment and prostrate over it." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Ibn Daqeeq Al-‘Eed, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said while highlighting the points of benefit that are deduced from this Hadeeth:
1- This Hadeeth indicates that it is permissible for a worshipper to spread his garment or the like in order to prostrate on it so as not to place one's forehead on the ground directly in case of intense heat or cold.
2- It also indicates that, in principle, one's forehead and hands should be placed directly on the ground during the prostration. The religious ruling in this regard is conditioned on the inability of the worshipper to prostrate directly on the ground. This means that, in principle, the worshipper should prostrate directly on the ground. This also indicates that, in principle, one should not spread his garment to prostrate on it while in the position of prostration.
Allaah Knows best.
