Sajdah al-tilaawat

Sajdah al-tilaawat

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that when, the son of Adam recites the Ayat of sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Satan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: ‘Alas, and in the narration of Abu Kuraib the words are: Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.’ (Sahih Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0144)

There are fifteen places in the Quran where we should perform Sajdah al-tilaawat (prostration of recitation) when reciting them. It was reported from ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited to him fifteen verses in the Quran where one should prostrate, three of which are in al-Mufassal and two in Surah al-Hajj. It was reported by Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, al-Haakim and al-Daaraqutni, and classed as hasan by al-Mundhiri and al-Nawawi. The fifteen aayat are (interpretation of the meanings) :

Sajdah # 1 : Juz’ 9 : Surah Al A’raf (7) Ayat 206
“Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to do Him worship: They celebrate His praises, and bow down before Him.”

Sajdah # 2 : Juz’ 13 : Surah Al Ra’d (13) Ayat 15
“Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to Allah (acknowledging subjection),- with good-will or in spite of themselves: so do their shadows in the morning and evenings.”

Sajdah # 3 : Juz’ 14 : Surah Al Nahl (16) Ayat 50
“They all revere their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded.”

Sajdah # 4 : Juz’ 15 : Surah Al Isra’ (17) Ayat 109
“They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility.”

Sajdah # 5 : Juz’ 16 : Surah Maryam (19) Ayat 58
“Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace,- of the posterity of Adam, and of those who We carried (in the Ark) with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Signs of (Allah) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them, they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears.”

Sajdah # 6 : Juz’ 18 : Surah Al Hajj (22) Ayat 18
“Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as Allah shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for Allah carries out all that He wills.”

Juz’ 18 : Surah Al Hajj (22) Ayat 77 (Shafi’i)
“O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.”

Sajdah # 7 : Juz’ 19 : Surah Al Furqan (25) Ayat 60
“When it is said to them, “Adore ye (Allah) Most Gracious!”, they say, “And what is (Allah) Most Gracious? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us?” And it increases their flight (from the Truth).”

Sajdah # 8 : Juz’ 19 : Surah Al Naml (27) Ayat 26
“God!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!”

Sajdah # 9 : Juz’ 21 : Surah Al Sajdah (32) Ayat 15
“Only those believe in Our Signs, who, when they are recited to them, fall down in adoration, and celebrate the praises of their Lord, nor are they (ever) puffed up with pride.”

Sajdah # 10 : Juz’ 23 : Surah Sad (38) Ayat 24
“(David) said: “He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other: Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?” …and David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance).”

Sajdah # 11 : Juz’ 24 : Surah Fussilat (41) Ayat 38
“But if the (Unbelievers) are arrogant, (no matter): for in the presence of thy Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and by day. And they never flag (nor feel themselves above it).”

Sajdah # 12 : Juz’ 27 : Surah Al Najm (53) Ayat 62
“But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!”

Sajdah # 13 : Juz’ 30 : Surah Al Inshiqaq (84) Ayat 21
“And when the Quran is read to them, they fall not prostrate,”

Sajdah # 14 : Juz’ 30 : Surah Al Alaq (96) Ayat 19
“Nay, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer (to Allah)!”

Questions regarding Sajdah al-tilaawat:

Q. 1) I know when and how to perform Sajdah al-tilaawat, but I do not know WHY we perform it. Please advise.

A. 1) Every verse of prostration contains a command to prostrate or severe censure of those who refuse to–thus, believers rush to fulfill this command and to distinguish themselves as those who submit to Allah. The basis of a Divine command is that it establishes an firm duty. And Allah alone gives success.

Q. 2) If the Ayat of Sajdah is heard while listening to Tape/Radio, is it necessary to perform the Sajdah al-tilaawat?

A. 2) If the Ayat of Sajdah is heard on tape recorder or played on radio, Sajdah al-tilaawat is not necessary. If the recitation is live on Radio, Sajdah al-tilaawat is necessary.

Q. 3) During the month of Ramadan the mosque speakers are used in the Taraweeh. The voice is also heard outside the mosque. As the whole Quran is recited in the Taraweeh and obviously Ayat of Sajdah are also recited. Now a person sitting at his home hears those Ayat, is he going to perform those Sajdah al-tilaawat?

A. 3) Yes.

Q. 4) What is the correct way to do Sajdah al-tilaawat? Do we need to say Takbir and give salaam to both sides like in salat?

A.4) Sajdah al-tilaawat is simply to make sajdah by saying Allahu-Akbar, going into sajdah, and reciting three times ‘Subhaana Rabbi-al a’alaa’. There is no need to stand or even raise the hands, as one would do when commencing Salat. There is also no salaam on any side after making the sajdah. And Allah Knows Best.

While in the Salaah, when you recite the Ayah containing Sajdah al-tilaawat, simply go to Sajdah and say ‘Subhaana Rabbi-al a’alaa’ 3 times… and stand back to complete the Qiraat.

Performing the Sajdah al-tilaawat is Afzal (important, desirable, highly beneficial) because Shaytaan cries and runs away from the person performing it.

All these verses either give the command to make Sajdah or mention that the believers prostrate before Allah in submission to Him. As a response to these statements, it is required, according to the Sunnah of the Prophet -peace be upon him- to make one Sajdah whenever one reads, recites from the memory, or hears any of these verses. This is an important Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) and it should not be omitted.

The pre-requisites for this Sajdah are the same as for the Salah. One has to be in Wudu', wearing proper clothes and should face the Qibla when making this Sajdah. Women, if they hear the reading of the Qur'an during their menses or post childbirth bleeding period, are not required to make this Sajdah. If one reads any of the above-mentioned verses in the prayer then one should go to the Sajdah immediately. Outside the prayer, if any of these verses are recited or heard then the Sajdah should be done as soon as possible. There is only one Sajdah required for each verse and in the Sajdah one should recite the usual du'a: "Subhana rabbiyal-A'la".

1
Surah Al-A`araaf (7) : 206
Total verses: 206
Note: The Sajdah verse placed at the end of surah.

Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to do Him worship: They celebrate His praises, and bow down before Him.

2
Surah Ar-Ra'ad (13) : 15
Total verses: 43

Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to Allah (Acknowledging subjection),- with good-will or in spite of themselves: so do their shadows in the morning and evenings.

3
Surah An-Nahl (16) : 50
Total verses: 128

They all revere their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded.

4
Surah Al-Isra (17) : 109
Total verses: 111

They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility.

5
Surah Maryam (19) : 58
Total verses: 98

Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace,- of the posterity of Adam, and of those who We carried (in the Ark) with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Signs of ((Allah)) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them, they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears.

6
Surah Al-Hajj (22) : 18
Total verses: 78

Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,--the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as Allah shall disgrace,--None can raise to honor: for Allah carries out all that He wills.

7Surah Al-Hajj (22) : 77
Total verses: 78

O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.

8
Surah Al-Furqan (25) : 60
Total verses: 77

When it is said to them, "Adore ye ((Allah)) Most Gracious!", they say, "And what is ((Allah)) Most Gracious? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us?" And it increases their flight (from the Truth).

9
Surah An-Naml (27) : 26
Total verses: 93

"(Allah)!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!"

10
Surah As-Sajdah (32) : 15
Total verses: 30

Only those believe in Our Signs, who, when they are recited to them, fall down in adoration, and celebrate the praises of their Lord, nor are they (ever) puffed up with pride.

11
Surah Saad (38) : 24
Total verses: 88

(David) said: "He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other: Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?"...and David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance).

12
Surah Fussilat (41) : 38
Total verses: 54

But is the (Unbelievers) are arrogant, (no matter): for in the presence of thy Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and by day. And they never flag (nor feel themselves above it).

13
Surah An-Najm (53) : 62
Total verses: 62
Note: The Sajdah verse placed at the end of surah.

But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!

14
Surah Al-Insiqaq (84) : 21
Total verses: 25

And when the Qur'an is read to them, they fall not prostrate,

15
Surah Al-'Alaq (96) : 19
Total verses: 19
Note: The Sajdah verse placed at the end of surah.

Day, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer (to Allah.!

There are 15 sajdah verses inside 14 surahs
There are 2 sajdah verse inside surah Al-Hajj (22)
Verse 18 & 77
There are 3 sajdah verses placed in the end of surah.
7:206, 53:62 and 96:19