Thafanaat
in Arabic means ‘Calluses’. He was called this because something like
the calluses of the camel appeared on the parts on which he prostrated.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) has said,
“My father used
to get calluses on the places on which he prostrated. He used to cut
them atleast twice in a year. Every time he had to cut five such
calluses hence he became known as Dhut-Thafanaat (One with calluses or
lumps)”.
(Bihar
al-Anwaar)
It would be important to mention here that this is one of the
characteristics of a true and sincere believer. Allah (SWT) Himself has
praised such people in the Holy Quran.
“Muhammad is the messenger of
Allah; and those who are with him are severe against the infidels but
compassionate among themselves. You will see them bowing and
prostrating, seeking His grace and pleasure;
Their mark is on their faces
(foreheads) from the effect of prostrations”.
(48:29)
It is also reported from the same Imam (as) that:
“Whenever my father ‘Ali ibnul-Husayn (as):
-Remembered any bounty of Allah, he (as) prostrated.
-Read
any verse of Quran with Sajdah, he (as) prostrated.
-Feared
anything or anyone, he (as) prostrated.
-He
completed his obligatory prayer, he (as) prostrated.
-He made
peace between two people, he (as) prostrated.
The
marks of prostrations were all evident on his parts of body used for
Sajdah, thus he became known as As-Sajjad”.
(Bihar
al-Anwaar)
It is also reported that:
[Once
our Imam (as) went to the desert. One of his slaves followed him and saw
that the Imam (as) was prostrating on a coarse stone and reciting:
LAA
ILAAHA ILLALLAHU HAQQAN HAQQA
LAA
ILAAHA ILLALLAHU TA’BBUDAN WA RIQQA
LAA
ILAAHA ILLALLAHU IMAANAN WA SIDQA