Gnostic Islam

1. The True God (The Monad or Supreme Being):

• In Gnosticism, the True God is often described as an ineffable, unknowable source of all creation, transcending material reality. This divine source is sometimes called the Monad, the One, or the Supreme Being.

• Gnostic prayer and worship are directed toward this higher, transcendent God, seeking spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the material world.

2. The Demiurge (Creator of the Material World):

• Gnostics often distinguish between the True God and the Demiurge, a lesser deity responsible for creating and governing the material world.

• The Demiurge is sometimes depicted as a flawed or ignorant being, equated with the God of the Old Testament in some Gnostic texts.

• In Gnostic Christianity, practices like bowing or prostrating might not be directed toward the Demiurge but toward the True God, as the Demiurge is seen as a being that traps souls in the material realm.

3. Sophia and the Divine Feminine:

• Sophia, often considered a divine emanation or aspect of the True God, plays a central role in Gnostic cosmology. She represents wisdom and is seen as a mediator between the material and spiritual realms.

• In some Gnostic traditions, prayers may also be directed to Sophia as a way to seek enlightenment and divine knowledge (gnosis).

4. Prayer in Gnostic Christianity:

• For Gnostics, prayer is less about external rituals and more about internal communion with the divine. Acts like bowing and prostrating would symbolize humility and a deep connection with the True God, not submission to the material powers or the Demiurge.

• Gnostic prayer practices often involve meditation, contemplation, and seeking direct, mystical experiences of the divine.

In Relation to Islamic Bowing and Prostration:

• If interpreted through a Gnostic lens, bowing (ruku') and prostration (sujud) could be seen as acts of turning away from the material world and aligning oneself with the True God, the ultimate source of spiritual truth.

• The focus would be on inner intention seeking liberation and divine knowledge, rather than mere outward conformity or submission to an earthly or lesser deity.

In the Qur'an, bowing (ruku') and prostrating (sujud) are described as acts of worship and submission to God. These actions symbolize humility, devotion, and acknowledgment of God's greatness. 

Below are some key verses addressing bowing and prostration:

Bowing (Ruku')

1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:43):
   "And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]."

2. Surah Al-Hajj (22:77):
   "O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good—so that you may succeed."

Prostrating (Sujud)

1. Surah Al-‘Alaq (96:19):
   "No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allah]."

2. Surah An-Najm (53:62):
   "So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him]."

3. Surah Al-Isra (17:107-109):
   "Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration."

4. Surah Maryam (19:58):
   "When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping."

General Instructions

• Prostration is highlighted as a powerful means of seeking closeness to Allah, demonstrating complete surrender and humility.

• Both bowing and prostration are integral parts of Salah (prayer) and reflect physical and spiritual submission to God.

These verses emphasize the importance of bowing and prostration as expressions of servitude to Allah, underscoring their spiritual significance in Islam.