View source for To fall on the face (נפילת אפים) Hebrew nefilat apayim

The Rambam states prostration (with one's body pressed flat to the earth) should be practiced at the end of the Amidah, recited thrice daily.  Here he is referring to the Tachanun prayer.  Originally a full prostration, had been modified as early as the time of the Geonim into a mere bowing the head forward upon the arm.  It is possible that this prayer has no apparent correspondence to Islamic prayer is due the reticence of for public confession as a part of Islamic public prayer.<ref>Based on an a article " Path of Abraham, Prayer Of Our Fathers" by sagavyah on blogspot.com</ref>

Rabbi Eli'ezer Melamed said “falling nose-ward" / ''nafilat apaiyim'' - was originally a reference to the act placing one's nose to the ground while bowing.<ref>published in the weekly pamphlet "Ma'at min haOhr" for the Torah section of Qorahh, 29 in the month of Siwan in the year 5767 / 2007</ref> It is based on "And Moses heard and he fell upon his face" (Numbers 16:4)  From the scriptural times, unrelated to the Temple service, they were accustomed to say the prayer of ''nafilat apaiyim'' in full prostration (''histahhaweh'') or partial prostration (''qida'').  In prostration the one praying falls upon the ground with his entire body, with his hands and feet spread-out on the ground. 
 
Unlike the full prostration associated with the consummation of a Temple Sacrifice, the full prostration associated with Tachanun was to hides one’s face out of fear and shame before God.  In many communities they are accustomed to cover the face with a garment.  And if he does not have long sleeves, he shall not make do with hiding his head on his forearm, since the forearm and the face are one body, and the body can not cover itself.  And if there is a scarf in his hand, he shall place [it] on his forearm and hide (''yilit'') his face in it.  And if he does not have a scarf, he shall fall upon his bare forearm; and if there is a table there, he shall lean his head and his forearm upon it - thus the table will be considered as the essential covering for his face. And for one who has long sleeves, it is best that he place his forearm and his face on the table, and if he needs the help of a prayer-book, he shall draw the prayer-book near to his face, and thus the prayer-book shall also hide his face.<ref>Y'eueen Pnini halakha - Prayer / Tefila Kaf-Alef, Dalet, 4</ref>

How completely the Church ritual of early times was dominated by the Synagogue is shown by the usage prevalent in the Christian Church, and mentioned by Tertullian ("De Corona Militis," iii.), that on Sunday, and during the whole week of Pentecost, prayer was not to be said “kneeling”. The synagogal custom (''minhag''), as old as the first Christian century, omits the prostration on all festivals and semi-festivals (B. M. 59b).

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[[Category: Islam and Judaism]]
[[Category:Prayer Positions]]