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Types of Prostration


The main types of positions that were take during prayer included: Breikhah, Qam (`Amidah), Qidah, Hishtakhaweh, Kri`ah, Nafilat Apayim These terms will be explained in more detail below, however it is worth noting that there is some interchangeability in these terms. The Rambam in Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Tefillah uses the term Kri`ah (kneelings) for all of the above, and when referring to Nafilat Apayim the Rambam says that either Qidah or Hishtakhaweh can be performed according to custom (mihag).ref>Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Tefilah</ref>

There seemed to be some discussion as to the nature of Qidah, The Talmud Sukkah 53a deems it necessary to explain what is meant by the word Qidah:

It was taught: They said of R. Simeon b. Gamaliel…he used to take eight lighted torches [and juggle them]… and when he prostrated himself, he used to dig his two thumbs in the ground, bend down, kiss the ground, and draw himself up again, a feat which no other man could do, and this is what is meant by Qidah. Levi showed in the presence of Rabbi what Qidah is and as a result, became lame [the tremendous strain dislocated his thigh]…

However the conclusion of the Gemara in Talmud Megilah 22b, Brakhoth 34b and Shavuoth 16b is that:

Qidah is [bowing] upon the face, as it says: Then Bath-Sheba bowed with her face to the ground (1 Kings 8:31).
Kri`ah [kneeling] is upon the knees, as it says: From kneeling on his knees. (1 Kings 8:54)
Hishtakhaweh [prostration] is spreading out of hands and feet, as it says: Shall I and thy mother and they brethren come to prostrate ourselves before these on the ground? (Genesis 37:10).

When comparing Islamic and Rabbinic tradition, at first sight there seems to be a mismatch: 1) Breichah (Islamic Ruku) is translated as Bless and not as a prayer position. 2) Qidah corresponds to Islamic Sajda, 3) Kri`ah corresponds to Islamic Qu'ud and 4) Hishtakhaweh, which is always translated by Onkelos into Aramaic as Sajda appears to have no Islamic counterpart. A discussion of these differences and how they came about follows below.

References