Section 1
Sujud al‑Qur’an (Sajdah al‑Tilāwah)
Introduction & Definitions
1.1: What Is Sajdah al‑Tilāwah?
In Arabic, سجدة التلاوة (sajdah al‑tilāwah) literally “prostration of recitation” refers to the act of performing a single prostration (sajdah) upon reciting or hearing certain Qur’anic verses that describe or evoke prostration. It is distinct from the sujūd performed during Salah (formal prayer) or in other supplications.
The Qur’an contains explicit commands or implied descriptions of prostration, as in Surah al‑Najm:
قُلْ فَسُجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا
“Say: So fall down in prostration to Allah and worship [Him].” (Qur’an 53:62)
When Muslims recite or hear such verses, it is traditional though not strictly mandatory in the majority view to perform this single prostration, expressing reverence, humility, and immediate submission to Allah.
1.2: Terminology & Distinctions
Understanding sajdah al‑tilāwah requires clarity on related terms in Arabic and Islamic praxis:
سجدة التلاوة (sajdah al‑tilāwah): Prostration upon recitation of specific Qur’anic verses.
سجدة الصلاة (sajdah aṣ ṣalāh): Prostrations within Salah (Rukūʿ and Sujūd).
Sajdah al‑shukr: A prostration of thanks, made outside formal worship.
Sajdah al-hajah: A prostration offered to seek a personal need.
This article focuses on sajdah al‑tilāwah the one triggered by Qur’anic verse, a meaningful, ritual act across Sunni and Shi’a traditions.
1.3: Historical Context and Practice
The practice of prostration upon reciting certain verses traces directly to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions. Multiple authentic sources confirm:
Amr ibn al‑’As said the Prophet ﷺ recited fifteen verses at which sujūd was made .
In Surah al‑Najm, Ibn Kathīr and other scholars explain that when this verse was first revealed, companions including non-Muslims prostrated spontaneously at its solemn declaration .
Among the earliest practices was the spontaneous, heart-driven response of believers to the speech of Allah, a model celebrated in Islamic tradition as exemplifying true reverence and submission.
1.4: The Fifteen Recitation Verses
Islamic scholarship consistently identifies fifteen verses where sajdah al‑tilāwah is observed. These are marked in Qur’anic texts (mushaf) with a symbol resembling a prayer niche. As IslamQA and other authoritative references note, these include:
1. Al‑A‘rāf 7:206
2. Ar‑Ra‘d 13:15
(all fifteen listed)
Each verse features imagery or direct command to prostrate, from angels and mountains to believers who, upon hearing the word, “…fall down on their faces in humble prostration” (Qur’an 17:107) .
1.5: Approaches in Jurisprudence
The act is treated as Sunnah Muʼakkadah (confirmed practice) in the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali schools, though only obligatory (wājib) in the Hanafi view. As one commentator on Reddit summarized:
The Shāfi‘ī, Mālikī, and Ḥanbalī schools view it as recommended not required.
The Ḥanafī school holds it is obligatory for both reader and listener .
This nuanced legal framework allows Muslims to follow their tradition with confidence, knowing that sajdah al‑tilāwah is a deeply rooted practice, even when juristic opinions vary.
1.6: Physical and Spiritual Meaning
The act of prostration placing the forehead, nose, both hands, knees, and toes on the ground symbolizes complete submission and the humbling of the body before the divine. Scholarly resources, including Al‑Islam.org, outline the full posture required and its meaning .
Modern research also shows measurable effects: one pilot EEG study found that a 10 second prostration affected brain activity particularly in the prefrontal cortex suggesting immediate effects on focus, emotional regulation, and physiological calm
1.7: Why Study Sajdah al‑Tilāwah Thoroughly?
Investigating this practice with scholarly and reflective rigor is essential for several reasons:
It is a physical embodiment of Qur’anic reverence: When one hears the divine word and immediately prostrates, the body echoes the heart’s submission.
It strengthens mind‑body‑spirit connections, which modern neuroscience supports as vital to mental health .
It is a unique worship practice tied intimately to reading and contemplating Qur’anic meaning—one of the only parts of Islamic ritual directly tied to listening or reciting scripture.
It is accessible in daily worship, outside mandatory prayer, prayer, or recitation, and allows each believer a personal moment of deep devotion.
1.8: Section Summary
In this essential introduction, we've:
Defined sajdah al‑tilāwah and distinguished it from other prostrations.
Identified its Qur’anic and Hadith basis, including the fifteen traditional trigger verses.
Clarified views across Islamic jurisprudence.
Seen both traditional and modern evidence for its profound impact spiritually, psychologically, physiologically.
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