Introduction
Sajdah Tilawat is a special act of prostration that Muslims perform when reciting or listening to certain verses of the Quran. It is a sign of humility, faith, and respect for the words of Allah. This prostration reminds believers that every command in the Quran deserves full submission.
In Islam, Sajdah Tilawat carries great importance because it transforms the recitation of the Quran into a deeper act of worship. When a Muslim performs this sajdah, they show obedience and gain reward while strengthening their relationship with Allah.
Understanding the meaning, method, and rulings of Sajdah Tilawat allows Muslims to follow this practice correctly and earn its blessings. Since the Quran contains several verses that require Sajdah Tilawat, every believer should know how and when to perform it.
What is Sajdah Tilawat?
Sajdah Tilawat is the prostration of recitation. It takes place when a Muslim recites or hears specific verses of the Qur’an that include a command of prostration. This act is separate from the daily prayers and is performed only when certain verses are read or listened to.
The main purpose of Sajdah Tilawat is to show obedience to Allah and respect for His words. By bowing down, a believer acknowledges the greatness of Allah and accepts the command mentioned in the Quran. It is a moment that turns simple recitation into an act of worship.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged Muslims to perform Sajdah Tilawat whenever they encounter these verses. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and then falls in prostration, Shaytan moves away crying and says: Woe to me! The son of Adam was ordered to prostrate, and he obeyed, so Paradise is for him. I was ordered to prostrate and I disobeyed, so Hell is for me.” (Sahih Muslim)
This hadith shows the great reward and spiritual benefit of Sajdah Tilawat. It is more than just a physical action; it is a reminder of humility and the duty of every believer to submit to Allah command.
How Many Sajdah Tilawat in the Qur’an?
The Quran contains several verses where Muslims are required to perform Sajdah Tilawat. These verses are known as Ayat al-Sajdah (verses of prostration). When a believer recites or hears any of these verses, they should perform a prostration to show humility and obedience to Allah.
Total Sajdah Tilawat in the Quran
Most scholars agree that there are 14 places of Sajdah Tilawat in the Qur’an. However, some Islamic schools of thought mention 15 prostrations based on their interpretation of certain verses.
- According to the Hanafi school, there are 14 Sajdah Tilawat.
- According to the Shafi’i school, there are 14 Sajdah Tilawat, but they include an extra one in Surah Hajj, making it 15 in total.
List of Sajdah Tilawat Surahs and Verses
Here are the Surahs in which the verses of prostration appear:
- Surah Al-A’raf – 7:206
- Surah Ar-Ra’d – 13:15
- Surah An-Nahl – 16:50
- Surah Al-Isra – 17:109
- Surah Maryam – 19:58
- Surah Al-Hajj – 22:18
- Surah Al-Hajj – 22:77 (difference of opinion, some count this as the 15th)
- Surah Al-Furqan – 25:60
- Surah An-Naml – 27:26
- Surah As-Sajdah – 32:15
- Surah Sad – 38:24
- Surah Fussilat – 41:38
- Surah An-Najm – 53:62
- Surah Inshiqaq – 84:21
- Surah Al-‘Alaq – 96:19
Signs of Sajdah Tilawat in the Qur’an
In most printed Qurans, a small symbol or mark appears at the end of a verse where Sajdah Tilawat is required. This helps readers to know when to stop and perform the sajdah.
How to Perform the Prostration of Recitation
When a Muslim recites or hears a verse of prostration in the Qur’an, they stop and perform the sajdah of tilawat. This action is short and simple, but it carries great reward.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Say “Allahu Akbar” without lifting your hands.
- Go directly into sajdah, placing your forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground.
- Recite the supplication for sajdah. One beautiful dua is: اللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبْ لِي بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَجْرًا، وَضَعْ عَنِّي بِهَا وِزْرًا، وَاجْعَلْهَا لِي عِنْدَكَ ذُخْرًا، وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي كَمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا مِنْ عَبْدِكَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ “O Allah, record a reward for me through it, remove a sin from me through it, store it with You as a treasure, and accept it from me as You accepted it from Your servant Dawud (peace be upon him).”
- Say “Allahu Akbar” again and rise from sajdah.
Hanafi Ruling
The Hanafi scholars teach that this sajdah becomes wajib when a person recites or hears a verse of prostration. They advise Muslims to perform it immediately so they do not forget.
Other Schools of Thought
Shafi’i and Maliki scholars view this sajdah as sunnah mu’akkadah, a highly encouraged act. Even if it is not wajib for them, they still perform it to show humility and gain extra reward.
Is Wudu Required for the Prostration of Recitation?
Scholars have discussed whether a Muslim needs wudu before performing the sajdah of tilawat. The difference of opinion comes from how closely this sajdah connects to salah.
General Opinion of Scholars
Many scholars say that performing sajdah without wudu is not valid, because the prostration resembles salah. Just like prayer, a person should be clean and in a state of purity before bowing down to Allah. They also recommend facing the qiblah and covering the body properly, even though sajdah is shorter than regular salah.
Hanafi School of Thought
The Hanafi scholars strongly emphasize wudu for sajdah. They consider it wajib, so a Muslim must be in a state of purity before performing the prostration. If someone hears or recites a verse of prostration without wudu, they should remember it and perform the sajdah later after making wudu.
Other Schools of Thought
Some scholars from the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools say that sajdah without wudu is valid, although they still recommend purity as the better practice. According to them, since this prostration is not a complete prayer, it does not strictly require wudu.
Practical Advice
The best approach is to follow the opinion of your madhhab. However, to stay safe and gain the full reward, Muslims should always perform sajdah in a state of wudu. This way, they combine respect for the Quran with proper Islamic etiquette.
What to Say in the Prostration of Recitation
When a Muslim performs the sajdah of tilawat, they should praise Allah and ask for His mercy. There is no single fixed wording, but scholars mention several authentic duas and phrases that a believer can recite during this prostration.
Common Supplication in Sajdah Tilawat
One recommended dua comes from the Sunnah:
اللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبْ لِي بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَجْرًا، وَضَعْ عَنِّي بِهَا وِزْرًا، وَاجْعَلْهَا لِي عِنْدَكَ ذُخْرًا، وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي كَمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا مِنْ عَبْدِكَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ
“O Allah, record for me a reward because of it, remove from me a sin because of it, store it for me as a treasure with You, and accept it from me just as You accepted it from Your servant Dawud (peace be upon him).”
This dua reflects the humility of the believer and their hope for forgiveness and reward.
Shorter Words of Praise
If a Muslim cannot remember the longer dua, they can simply say:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
“Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.”
This short praise is also recited in the sajdah during salah and is valid in Sajdah Tilawat as well.
Prophet’s Practice
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to say different words of glorification in his prostration. For example, A’isha (RA) reported that when he prostrated, he often said:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي
“Glory is to You, O Allah, our Lord, and all praise is Yours. O Allah, forgive me.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Practical Guidance
Muslims should try to learn the dua of Sajdah Tilawat, but if they forget, any form of dhikr such as SubhanAllah or Allahu Akbar is sufficient. The key is to prostrate with sincerity and humility.
Common Questions About the Sajdah of Recitation
Many Muslims have practical questions about the sajdah of tilawat. Below are answers to some of the most common ones, based on Islamic scholarship.
Yes, you can. Even though voluntary prayers are not allowed after Fajr and Asr, scholars permit Sajdah Tilawat at these times. The reason is that this sajdah is not a full prayer, but a single act of prostration.
If you forget, perform it as soon as you remember. There is no need to repeat salah, but delaying it without excuse is discouraged. Scholars say it is best to perform it immediately when you recite or hear the verse.
No, you do not repeat the whole prayer. If you forgot inside salah and remembered later, you can perform sajdah sahw (prostration of forgetfulness), or in some cases, perform Sajdah Tilawat after finishing your prayer. Hanafi scholars are strict about completing it, while other schools are more lenient.
Yes, but scholars recommend doing it right away to avoid forgetting. The Hanafi school in particular considers it wajib, so delaying it without excuse is not ideal.
Yes, it is recommended to face the Qiblah when performing Sajdah Tilawat. While some scholars allow it without facing the Qiblah, the better way is to follow the same etiquette as salah.
This depends on the school of thought. Hanafi scholars require wudu, while some other schools allow it without wudu. However, performing it in a state of purity is the safest and most respectful way.
Importance of Sajdah Tilawat in Islam
The sajdah tilawat carries deep spiritual meaning for every Muslim. It is not just a physical bowing but a way to show humility before Allah whenever His command for prostration appears in the Quran.
Qur’anic Emphasis on Prostration
The Qur’an repeatedly highlights the act of prostration as a sign of submission. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِآيَاتِنَا الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهَا خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
“Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded of them, fall down in prostration and glorify the praises of their Lord, and they are not arrogant.” (Surah As-Sajdah 32:15)
This verse shows how believers respond with sajdah whenever they hear Allah’s words.
Hadith About Sajdah Tilawat
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ strongly encouraged this practice. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and falls in sajdah, Shaytan moves away crying, saying: ‘Woe to me! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he did, so Paradise is for him. I was commanded to prostrate but I refused, so Hell is for me.’” (Sahih Muslim)
This hadith highlights the reward of sajdah tilawat and the danger of ignoring Allah’s command.
Spiritual Benefits of Tilawat Sajdah
- It strengthens a Muslim’s connection with the Quran.
- It reminds the believer to stay humble before Allah.
- It protects the heart from arrogance and pride.
- It earns reward both for the reciter and the listener.
Why Muslims Perform the Sajdah of Recitation
Muslims perform this sajdah because it shows obedience to Allah’s command in real time. Instead of just reading the words, the believer physically responds to the Qur’an, proving that faith is more than speech it is action.
Conclusion
The sajdah tilawat is more than a physical act; it is a direct response to Allah’s words in the Quran. Each time a Muslim performs this prostration, they renew their humility, obedience, and closeness to their Creator. Scholars may differ on whether it is wajib or sunnah, but all agree that it brings great reward.
By learning how to perform sajdah tilawat correctly, understanding its rulings, and reciting the recommended duas, Muslims can strengthen their bond with the Quran and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. This simple act carries deep meaning and reminds believers that true faith lies in both words and actions.
Each prostration of recitation is a step closer to Allah’s mercy.