🧾 Section 3: The Fiqh of Sujud al-Tilāwah (Legal Rulings and Practice)
3.1 Definition and Concept
Sujud al-Tilāwah (سُجود التلاوة) refers to a prostration made upon reciting or hearing specific verses of the Qur'an that contain a command or description of prostration. It is an act of humility and submission to Allah and symbolizes the deep impact of Qur'anic verses on the believer’s heart.
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ
"And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they recognize..."
3.2 Ruling (حُكم) of Sujud al-Tilāwah
There is Ijma’ (consensus) that Sujud al-Tilāwah is legislated in Islam. However, its legal status differs among scholars.
✅ Hanafi:
- Wājib (mandatory) for the reciter and the listener if the listener hears with attention (Ibn ‘Ābidīn, Radd al-Muhtār, 1/606).
- Must be performed immediately; delay without reason is sinful.
✅ Maliki:
- Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah) but not obligatory.
- Not required during congregational prayer (al-Dardīr, ash-Sharh al-Kabīr, 1/216).
✅ Shafi’i:
- Sunnah for both reciter and listener (an-Nawawī, al-Majmū‘, 3/560).
- No sin in missing it, but recommended strongly.
✅ Hanbali:
- Sunnah – neither wājib nor fardh.
- However, highly encouraged when heard or recited.
Hadith Reference:
عن ابن عمر قال: كان النبي ﷺ يقرأ علينا السورة، فيها السجدة، فيسجد ونسجد معه، حتى لا يجد أحد منا مكانًا لجبهته
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: The Prophet ﷺ would recite a surah containing a prostration, then prostrate, and we would prostrate with him until no one could find room for their forehead.(Sahih al-Bukhari, 1075)
3.3 Conditions (Shurūt) of Sujud al-Tilāwah
To perform Sujud al-Tilāwah correctly, certain conditions are required:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| State of Purity | Wudu is required (according to Hanafis, Shafi’is) |
| Facing Qiblah | Strongly recommended (Ijma’) |
| Covering 'Awrah | Must be observed |
| Avoiding Najāsah | Cleanliness of place and body |
| Recitation/Hearing | Must recite or hear from a conscious Muslim |
Note: Maliki scholars permit prostration without wudu, but it’s preferable to be in a state of purity.
3.4 When is Sujud Required?
Sujud al-Tilāwah is required in three primary cases:
- Reciting the Verse Yourself: If you’re reading Qur’an and come to a verse of sujud.
- Hearing the Verse Recited by Another: If you listen with attention to a live recitation.
- During Salah: If the verse is recited in prayer, you may choose to perform the sujud within prayer, following its format.
📌 Not Required If:
- You read silently and skip the verse
- You hear it from a recording (most scholars exclude tapes)
3.5 Description: How to Perform Sujud al-Tilāwah
If outside Salah:
- Say “Allāhu Akbar” without raising hands.
- Go straight into one prostration (sajdah) — saying:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High"
- Then rise, saying:
الله أكبر (without concluding with taslim)
If inside Salah:
- Continue as in sujud of regular prayer
- You must rise to the next part of prayer after sajdah
3.6 Du’a to Be Said in Sujud al-Tilāwah
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say:
سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ، وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ، بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ، تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
“My face has prostrated to the One Who created it, and fashioned it, and opened its hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.”(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 579)
This beautiful supplication affirms tawḥīd, gratitude, and humility, echoing the reason for prostration.
3.7 Rulings for Women, Children, and Non-Arabic Speakers
- Women: Same rulings as men. Ensure hijab is worn if not in private.
- Children: Encouraged to learn and practice but not obligatory.
- Non-Arabic Speakers: Sujud is valid when done upon translation, but the Arabic wording should be learned over time.
3.8 Difference Between Sujud al-Tilāwah and Sujud ash-Shukr
| Feature | Sujud al-Tilāwah | Sujud ash-Shukr |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Qur’anic verse | Personal blessing or relief |
| Number of Sajdahs | One | One |
| In Salah? | Can be done in or out of prayer | Only outside prayer |
| Du’a | Based on Hadith or general gratitude | Du’a of thanks |
3.9 Importance of Sujud al-Tilāwah in Tarawīh and Recitation Sessions
Many huffāẓ (memorizers) and imams recite sajdah verses in Ramadan and Taraweeh prayers. It’s a Sunnah to perform Sujud al-Tilāwah when reaching these verses.
وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِّيًّا“And they fall to Him in prostration and weeping.” (Qur’an 19:58)
3.10 Can One Delay the Sajdah?
- Hanafi: No. It should be immediate.
- Shafi’i/Maliki: Can delay for valid reason, but preferred to do it right away.
3.11 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Doing sujud without wudu (unless Maliki)
- Forgetting direction of Qiblah
- Reciting verse and skipping sujud repeatedly
- Treating it as unimportant or optional when it is wājib in some schools.
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