Sujūd al-Tilāwah is a single prostration done when you recite or hear a verse of سجدة in the Qur’an. It is an act of humility and submission when Allah is mentioned in a way that calls for سجود.
Allah says:
إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِآيَاتِنَا الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهَا خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ
“Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded of them, fall down in prostration and glorify the praise of their Lord.”
[Qur’an 32:15]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِذَا قَرَأَ ابْنُ آدَمَ السَّجْدَةَ فَسَجَدَ اعْتَزَلَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَبْكِي يَقُولُ يَا وَيْلَهُ - وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي كُرَيْبٍ يَا وَيْلِي - أُمِرَ ابْنُ آدَمَ بِالسُّجُودِ فَسَجَدَ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَأُمِرْتُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَأَبَيْتُ فَلِيَ النَّارُ
“When, the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Satan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: Alas, and in the narration of Abu Kuraib the words are: Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 81]
How Many Sajdah Verses Are There?
There are 15 places of سجدة in the Qur’an according to the stronger opinion:
- Sūrah al-Aʿrāf (7:206)
- Sūrah al-Raʿd (13:15)
- Sūrah al-Naḥl (16:50)
- Sūrah al-Isrāʾ (17:109)
- Sūrah Maryam (19:58)
- Sūrah al-Ḥajj (22:18 and 22:77)
- Sūrah al-Furqān (25:60)
- Sūrah al-Naml (27:26)
- Sūrah al-Sajdah (32:15)
- Sūrah Ṣād (38:24)
- Sūrah Fuṣṣilat (41:38)
- Sūrah al-Najm (53:62)
- Sūrah al-Inshiqāq (84:21)
- Sūrah al-ʿAlaq (96:19)
When Do You Perform It?
- When you recite a sajdah āyah
- When you hear it being recited
You can do it immediately or shortly after.
Is It Obligatory?
Majority of scholars say:
- It is Sunnah (highly recommended)
- Not obligatory
The Prophet ﷺ sometimes did it and sometimes left it.
How to Perform It
Outside ṣalāh:
- Say “Allāhu Akbar” (optional but recommended)
- Go into sujūd
- Say dhikr
- Rise back up
No tashahhud
No salām
What to Say in Sujūd Tilawa
Minimum:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
“Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 772]
From Sunnah:
سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ
“My face has prostrated to the One who created it and brought forth its hearing and sight by His power and might.”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī 580]
Also:
اللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبْ لِي بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَجْرًا وَضَعْ عَنِّي بِهَا وِزْرًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لِي عِنْدَكَ ذُخْرًا وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي كَمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا مِنْ عَبْدِكَ دَاوُدَ
“O Allah! Record for me, a reward with You for it, remove a sin for me by it, and store it away for me with You, and accept it from me as You accepted it from Your worshipper Dawud.”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī 579 | Ḥasan]
Also:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
"O Allah, it is to Thee that I prostrate myself and it is in Thee that I affirm my faith, and I submit to Thee. My face is submitted before One Who created it, and shaped it, and opened his faculties of hearing and seeing. Blessed is Allah, the best of Creators"
[Muslim 771]
Inside Ṣalāh
- Recite āyah of sajdah
- Say “Allāhu Akbar”
- Go into sujūd
- Continue prayer normally
Do You Need Wuḍūʾ?
Difference of opinion:
- Majority: wuḍūʾ required
- Strong opinion: not required (since it is not full ṣalāh)
Safer: perform it with wuḍūʾ.
Direction (Qiblah) Required?
Also differed:
- Preferred: face qiblah
- Not strictly required according to some scholars
If You Miss It
No need to make it up later.
Can You Do It Anytime?
Yes, even in times when voluntary prayer is disliked, because it is linked to recitation.
