🧾 Section 13: The 15 Sujūd al-Tilāwah Verses in the Qur’an with Explanations

Sujūd al-Tilāwah (Prostration of Recitation) refers to a prostration performed when reciting or hearing certain verses in the Qur’an that command or describe prostration. These are powerful reminders of submission, and each carries deep spiritual meaning.

There are 15 Sujūd al-Tilāwah verses in the Qur’an according to most scholars, and we will explore each with:

Arabic Text

English Translation

Context

Ruling (Hukm)

Scholarly Insights

🌟 13.1 Sujūd in Surah Al-Aʿrāf (7:206)

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُۥ وَلَهُۥ يَسْجُدُونَ

“Surely, those who are near your Lord are not too proud to worship Him. They glorify Him and prostrate to Him.”

(Qur’an 7:206)

🔎 Context: This verse concludes a discussion about Iblis’s refusal to prostrate and contrasts it with the angels’ constant worship and sujūd.

📘 Tafsir Insight: According to Ibn Kathir, this verse shows the natural state of pious beings is submission and prostration (Ibn Kathir, 2003).

🧾 Ruling: Sunnah to prostrate when reciting or hearing.

🌟 13.2 Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:15)

 وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًۭا وَكَرْهًۭا وَظِلَـٰلُهُم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْءَاصَالِ

“And to Allah prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings.”

(Qur’an 13:15)

🔎 Context: Emphasizes the universal submission to Allah even shadows fall in sujūd.

📘 Tafsir Insight: The verse uses metaphor and literal meaning, showing all creation obeys Allah’s will.

🌟 13.3 Surah An-Naḥl (16:26)

 ...فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

“…So Allah came upon their buildings from the foundations, and the roof fell upon them from above, and the punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive.”

(Sujūd here is not agreed upon in all qira’at)

✅ Some scholars consider it optional; in Hafs qira’ah it is commonly included.

🌟 13.4 Surah Al-Isrā’ (17:107–109)

 ...وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًۭا • وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَا ۤ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا

“…And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it increases their humility. And they say: Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord is fulfilled.”

(Qur’an 17:109)

📘 Tafsir Insight: This reflects the attitude of sincere believers from the People of the Book who recognized the truth in the Qur’an.

🌟 13.5 Surah Maryam (19:58)

 ...إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًۭا وَبُكِيًّۭا

“When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.”

(Qur’an 19:58)

🧾 Ruling: Emphasizes spontaneous sujūd from awe and love.

📘 Ibn al-Qayyim: Describes this verse as showing how emotional closeness to Allah manifests in Sujūd.