Believers from all over the world feel honored to visit the holy shrines of Ahl al-Bayt (pbut); upon arriving at the gate of the shrine, some of them immediately prostrate. What is the ruling on this act?
Prostration to other than Allah is not permitted. As for the visitor, he or she can:
a. Prostrate with the intent of expressing servitude and lowliness to Allah, and thanking Him for granting the opportunity to visit the holy shrine and making it easy to do so.
b. Bend down and kiss the threshold to express love and loyalty to the Imam and not out of servitude [as one would do towards Allah]; and as an obligatory precaution one should not place his or her forehead on the ground, nor should the person bend down to kiss the threshold in a way or form that resembles prostration [to Allah].