A question regarding the validity of prayer when prostrating on a surface that is not permissible for prostration.
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani (may God protect him):
If a person prostrates on something that is not permissible for prostration, whether by mistake or believing it to be permissible, and realizes this after raising their head, their prayer continues and there is no penalty on them. Similarly, if they realize this after performing the obligatory remembrance during the prostration. However, if they realize it before that and can move their forehead to a permissible surface, they should do so. If it is not possible, their prostration is valid and their prayer is correct. However, if they intentionally added an action to the prayer, their prayer is deemed invalid.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Conditions for Prostration, M 557 + Errors in Prayer
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Khamenei (may God protect him):
If a person realizes during prostration that there is an obstacle preventing their forehead from touching the ground, such as a cloak, they must, without lifting their head, adjust their forehead or remove the obstacle until their forehead touches the ground by at least the tip of a finger. If they lift their head and remove the obstacle, and if they do this out of ignorance or forgetfulness, their prayer is valid for one prostration from one unit of prayer. However, if they do this knowingly and intentionally, or in two prostrations from one unit, their prayer is invalid. If they believed their prayer was valid, there is no penalty for what has passed, but they must make up those prayers.
Source: Message on Prayer and Fasting, Prayer, Obligations of Prayer, Prostration, M 262 + Special Inquiry.
May you be successful in all good.