🧠 Section 6: Jurisprudence (Fiqh) of Sujūd al-Tilāwah

Exploring the rulings across the four major Sunni Madhhabs (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali)

Sujūd al-Tilāwah is the prostration of Quranic recitation and is performed when reciting or hearing one of the 15 sajdah verses of the Qur’an. Scholars differ on some points, but all agree on its importance as a sunnah practice that demonstrates submission to Allah.

⚖️ 6.1. Ruling (Ḥukm) According to the Four Madhhabs

Madhhab Is it Wājib (Obligatory)? Listener's Obligation? Recitation Outside Prayer?

Ḥanafi Wājib (compulsory) Yes, must do it Yes, same ruling

Mālikī Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized sunnah) Not required Yes, recommended

Shāfi’ī Sunnah No, unless intending to follow Yes, sunnah

Ḥanbalī Sunnah No Yes, sunnah

Note: According to the Ḥanafī school, neglecting Sujūd al-Tilāwah intentionally without excuse is sinful, whereas the others regard it as highly recommended but not obligatory.

🧎 6.2. Who Must Perform It?

Situation Is Sujūd Required? (Ḥanafī view)

Reciting a verse of sajdah Yes

Hearing it in person Yes

Hearing it via recording/radio No

During silent recitation No

During memorization silently No, unless pronounced

🧼 6.3. Conditions of Valid Sujūd al-Tilāwah (Shurūṭ)

According to major scholars, the following conditions apply:

1. Wudū’ (ritual purity) is required (esp. Hanafī and Shāfi’ī).

2. Facing the Qiblah (as with normal prayer).

3. Covering the 'Awrah (private parts).

4. Freedom from najāsah (impurities).

5. Intention (Niyyah) in the heart.

6. Saying Takbīr before going down to prostrate (most agree).

7. No need to recite Tashahhud or Taslīm (except some Hanafis).

🗣️ 6.4. How to Perform Sujūd al-Tilāwah

1. Intend in your heart: "I am performing Sujūd al-Tilāwah."

2. Say Allāhu Akbar and go into sujūd.

3. In sujūd, recite:

 سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى

Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā

"Glory be to my Lord, the Most High"

Or:

 سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ بِقُدْرَتِهِ، فَتَبَارَكَ اللهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ

Sajada wajhī lillaḏī khalaqahu wa ṣawwarahu wa shaqqa sam‘ahu wa baṣarahu bi qudratihi, fa-tabāraka Allāhu aḥsanu al-khāliqīn.

“My face has prostrated to the One Who created it and formed it and opened its hearing and sight by His might. So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.”

(Abū Dawūd, 1414)

4. Then rise from sujūd  no taslīm or tashahhud needed unless you combine with ṣalāh.

📿 6.5. Sujūd al-Tilāwah During Ṣalāh (Prayer)

If you recite a sajdah verse in your own prayer, you must make sujūd before continuing.

If following an Imām, follow him if he performs the sujūd.

If he skips it, you must not go into sujūd alone  this breaks your jamā‘ah.

💡 Some scholars recommend delaying reciting sajdah verses in prayer if one is unsure how to perform the sujūd properly.

🎓 6.6. Statements from the Salaf

Imām Mālik (رحمه الله): “We do not say it is wājib, but a strong sunnah.”

Imām Abū Ḥanīfah: “It is a compulsory act if the person recites or hears the verse.”

Imām Aḥmad: “If one recites it, it is sunnah to prostrate, and if he doesn't, there's no sin.”

Imām al-Shāfi’ī: “It is a confirmed sunnah, and whoever abandons it has not sinned but lost reward.”

📚 Next Section: Historical Practice of Sujūd al-Tilāwah

Shall we now continue with Section 7: Historical

 Evidence and Practice from the Life of the Prophet ﷺ and Sahabah, including examples from Hadiths and their Arabic texts with citations?