Significance, Method And Regulations Of Sajdah (Prostration) Tilawat

The Islamic Conviction calls for believing in One God, i.e. Allah SWT and worshiping Him alone. In this regard, Sajdah (Prostration) is a great act of attaining Nearness to the Almighty Lord and weakening the influence of Satan. Muslims all over the world perform this necessary action of completion of Islamic Faith which is the personification of one`s dependence on One Allah SWT in all matters of life and beyond. The Messenger of God, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ explained the high significance of Sajdah Tilawat in the following way:

“Once, a person prostrates himself after reading a verse requiring the performance of sajdah, the shaitan starts crying and wailing in a corner, saying: ‘Alas! The children of Adam were enjoined to perform sajdah and they carried it out, and become entitled to enter Paradise, but I refused to do so and was condemned to Hell.'” (Muslim and Ibn Majah)

Satan was the one who did not prostrate in front of Adam and refused to fulfill the command of Allah SWT. Therefore, it does not like when a Muslim observes this obligatory deed which results in the attainment of Jannah (Paradise) in the hereafter. Therefore, it means that Rasulullah ﷺ has regarded Sajdah as a great means of making Shaitan fragile which ultimately leads to seeking Pleasure of the Creator of the world of the worlds.

Sajdah Tilawat is the form of prostration that one has to execute in front of Allah SWT while reading or hearing the recitation of specific parts of the Holy Quran. It is one of the essential rights of Furqan e Hameed, which every believer has to carry out.

Prerequisites Of Sajdah Tilawat

The necessary requirements for the rightful completion of this indispensable act of Prostration of Recitation are as follows:

1. Maintaining complete cleanliness in terms of both body and clothes
2. Choosing a hygienic place
3. Facing towards Qiblah
4. Making a Niyah (clear intention) of Sajdah

Procedure Of Sajdah Tilawat

The method of performing Sajdah Tilawat can be observed in the following Hadith:

“When you have recited a verse requiring sajdah tilawat, you should go down for sajdah with Allahu-Akbar and rise from sajdah with Allahu-Akbar, which may be performed sitting, though it is preferable to prostrate oneself from the standing position.” (Abu Dawood)

The above mentioned Saying of Rasulullah ﷺ gives the basic outline of carrying out the Prostration of Recitation which is:

1. Facing the Qiblah
2. Expression of the necessary Intention of Sajdah

‘Nawaytu Sajdatut Tilaawati lillahi Ta’ala’

1. Going down to prostration position after saying “Allahu Akbar” and pronouncing ‘Subhaana Rabbiyal A’ala‘ three times
2. Rising up from Sajdah with “Allahu Akbar”

It is Mustahab (desirable) to start from a standing position, however, one can also perform Sajdah Tilawat whilst sitting.

Points of Sajdah Tilawat in the Holy Quran

There are 14 places in the Sacred Book of Allah SWT where the Prostration of Recitation becomes obligatory to perform which are:

1. Surah Al A’Raf (7) Ayat 206
2. Surah Al Ra’d (13) Ayat 15
3. Surah Al Nahl (16) Ayat 50
4. Surah Bani Israil (17) Ayat 109
5. Surah Maryum (19) Ayat 58
6. Surah Al Haj (22) Ayat 18
7. Surah Al Farqan (25) Ayat 60
8. Surah Al Naml (27) Ayat 26
9. Surah As Sajdah (32) Ayat 15
10. Surah Sa’d (38) Ayat 24
11. Surah Hamim Sajdah (41) Ayat 38
12. Surah Al Najam (53) Ayat 62
13. Surah Inshiqaq (84) Ayat 21
14. Surah Al Alaq (96) Ayat 19

In the second last Ayah of Surah Haj, i.e. Chapter 22; Verse 77, one is not liable to perform Sajdah as the Command of Allah SWT in this Verse is solely about prayers.

Regulations Concerning Sajdah Tilawat

Since, the Prostration of Recitation has been greatly emphasized on the believers to perform; therefore, it requires one to follow a set of guidelines and instructions regarding this religious duty.

i)  Obligatory to carry out only on those who are of the age of performing Salah. In other words, children are exempt from execution of Sajdah Tilawat.

ii) If an Ayah containing the order of prostration comes in the recitation while being in a state of congregational prayer, it has to be performed right away in the same Salah. But if it is recited outside the state of Namaz, it could be acted upon later on.

iii) If, due to forgetfulness, Sajdah is skipped in prayer, one should ask the Most Merciful for Mercy.

iv) If one hears the Imam having recited the Quranic Verse containing Sajdah and already accomplished it, but it joins the afterwards, it should perform Prostration of Recitation after Namaz. However, if a person joins that very same Rakah of prostration, then there is no need to perform it afterwards as Imam has already achieved it.

v) One is not liable to carry out Sajdah Tilawat if it recites a particular Verse in its mind without raising its voice.

vi) If an Ayah containing sajdah is repeated many times in the same session, only one Prostration of Recitation is to be done. However in different sittings, one is to perform Sajdah Tilawat according to its number.

vii) One cannot execute Prostration of Recitation at the same place over the Holy Quran at the time of its narration. It has to be performed separately like carrying out a Salah.

These are some of the guiding principles concerning Sajdah Tilawat which need to be kept in mind.

Forbidden Occasions Of Performing Sajdah Tilawat

There are some moments in during day in which the Prostration of Recitation becomes void and one is Makrooh (prohibited) from accomplishing it in these instances. These are:

1. At the time of sunrise
2. When the Sun has set high (at noon)
3. And at the juncture of setting of the Sun

In short, Sajdah Tilawat is the form of both fulfillment of religious obligation of prostrating in front of Allah SWT as well as accomplishment of the important right of the Holy Quran. It results in getting the Happiness of the Almighty Lord and leads to fading of the satanic power of manipulating one`s thoughts.