Such a verse is called Ayat al-Sajdah-which translates to mean verse of prostration there are 15 verses of this type in the Qur’an.
Then, one may only prostrate once for one of the mentioned above verses due to humbleness and being subordinate in front of Allah, the way it was performed.
Key Points About Sujud Tilawah
1. How It’s Performed:
Sujud Tilawah consists of just one prostration, with no full prayer being executed. One simply falls in the direction of prostration while facing qiblah—the areas of direction in which praying Muslims face toward the Kaaba in Mecca—and makes a short supplication.
A person says Subhana Rabbiyal A’la, or whatever dua pertains to prostration, but these are usually generic terms.
2. When It Should Be Performed:
Sujud Tilawah is done when one recites or hears the Ayat al-Sajdah.
One may do it immediately after reading or hearing this verse, but if he forgets to do so immediately after and remembers later, it is no problem if he does it then.
3. Verses of Sujud Tilawah:
There are 15 in all, scattered around the Qur’an. Examples are Surah Al-A’raf verses 206, Surah An-Najm verse 62, and Surah Al-‘Alaq verse 19.
4. Must It Be Performed?
Most scholars consider Sujud Tilawah to be Sunnah and not Wajib. There are some, however, such as the Hanafi school of thought, where if one recites or hears these verses, then it becomes wajib on him.
5. Who Should Perform It?
It can be done by any Muslim; male or female having Wudu. Though it is more commendable to have Wudu and in case a person does not hear an Ayat al-Sajdah with Wudu he can do it without Wudu according to some schools of thought.
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Sujud Tilawah in Congregational Prayers
While in the congregational prayers, when the prayer is in progress and an Ayat al-Sajdah is being recited, the congregation follows that prostration along with the Imam while he is performing it.
Why Sujud Tilawah is Important?
It is the sign of humility and subordination before Allah, it is a sort of worship intended to emphasize the importance of gratitude and recognition of Allah’s power whether in general or in particular, while reading or hearing some of the verses that talk about the majesty of Allah, creation, or hereafter.
What to Read in Sajdah Tilawah?
Sujud Tilawah does not obligatorily have a dua, but there are recommended phrases based upon what the Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him-practiced. Here are some commonly accepted and used phrases that may be recited:
1. Subhana Rabbiyal A’la سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Translation: “Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.”
This phrase is also repeated in the usual prostrations during regular prayers.
2. Dua of Sujud Tilawah
Allah, write it for me with You as a reward, store it for me with You as stored treasure and remove from me because of it a burden, and accept it from me just as You accepted it from Your servant David.
O Allah, record for me a reward with You for it, make it a treasure for me with You, remove a burden from me because of it and accept it from me as You accepted it from Your servant Dawood”
This is a dua derived from a hadith; however, scholars disagree over the authenticity of this hadith. Anyway, there is no prohibition in making this dua since it reflects the spirit of Sujud Tilawah.
3. Any Other Personal Dua or Dhikr
You can also say any personal supplication or Dhikr-remembering Allah-in Sujud Tilawah-which reflects your humility and obedience to Allah.
While these are what generally get mentioned, Sujud Tilawah is flexible such that you can make any short supplication so long as it is humiliating with the glorification of Allah.
Is Sajdah Tilawat Permissible without Wudu?
Regarding this, the requirement of Wudu to be performed in Sujud Tilawah differs among Islamic scholars and meaning differs with various schools of thought.
1. The majority of views hold that it is Mustahab to have wudu.
Some scholars hold the opinion that wudu should be present in performing Sujud Tilawah, which is not an obligation, yet it is held by Maliki and Shafi’i.
They would not, however, demand wudu in Sujud Tilawah because it falls into the category of a worship act connected with the recitation of the Qur’an and is not salah. But at the same time, it is recommended as a respectful gesture toward such an act of prostration.
2. Hanafi School-Obligatory to Have Wudu:
Sujud Tilawah is considered an act of worship itself by the Hanafi, just as the prayer itself is, and requires ritual purity.
Thus, according to the Hanafi, wudu’ is a condition for the validity of Sujud Tilawah. They regard this prostration as being somewhat like a part of prayer since it has a close relation to the recitation of the Qur’an.
3. Hanbali School [Desirable but Not Necessary]:
On this issue as well, the Hanbali School holds that wudu is desirable but not necessary.
They explain that Sujud Tilawah may be made without wudu when need be, for most often, on hearing or reading an Ayat al-Sajdah on the spur of the moment, it will not be practical to take a new wudu.
Practice Advice
While for the greater good of propriety, especially in a formal and public setting, one should be in a state of wudu while performing Sujud Tilawah, this is not always obligatory.
If one happens to follow the school of the Hanafi, then wudu will be a must. In other cases, if one happens to be without wudu and cannot perform it immediately, then if need be-one may perform the prostration.
Key Takeaway
It is desirable to be in wudu, if possible, for Sujud Tilawah as a sign of the greatest respect and homage. Usually, one may perform Sujud Tilawah without being in wudu.
Can You Do Sajdah Tilawat without Hijab?
The Sujud Tilawah or prostration of recitation, is variably allowed without a hijab – considering different situations and schools of thought. The considerations are as follows:
1. In Salah:
For example, if it occurs in prayer, that is to say, an obligatory prayer and the person is reciting a verse of prostration, then all the conditions of prayer are applied to it, such as a woman covering her awrah by wearing hijab, for in that case it will be considered part of prayer; hence, all conditions of prayer must be completed.
Most of these scholars hold the view that during Sujud Tilawah, which is performed outside formal prayer, a hijab is not necessarily required.
However, schools like Hanafi and Hanbali stand for the continuity of hijab even outside the prayer because they consider an act of reverence similar to a kind of prayer, thus covering the awrah, including wearing the hijab.
For this reason, both the Shafi’i and Maliki schools do not necessarily require the hijab when Sujud Tilawah is performed outside of prayer.
It views this prostration as being an independent one, separate from formal prayer, and hence allows it to be given by women in the absence of a hijab provided the minimum awrah, that is navel to knees for men and from chest to knee for women are observed.
Practical Guidance
Optimal Practice: As a sign of respect, and to be in harmony with the majority of Muslims, it is recommended that one always keeps the awrah covered in performing Sujud Tilawah.
Permissibility: In the case where a woman is without hijab and desires to perform Sujud Tilawah immediately, then this may be performed, specifically in the schools of Shafi’i and Maliki, provided the necessary awrah are covered.
Key Takeaway:
Although wearing the hijab during Sujud Tilawah is best, some scholarly opinions hold that outside of the prayer itself, it is not necessary.
