The prostration of recitation (sujud at-tilawa)

Fifteen verses of the Quran mark a prostration of recitation (sujud at-tilawa): at their reading, the reader and the listener alike prostrate once, saying "Subhana Rabbiya al-A'la".

Where are the verses of the prostration of recitation?

The manuals count 15 in the Medinan order: the best known are the end of an-Najm (where the Prophet prostrated with the Muslims and even the jinn, Muslim 575), the ends of al-A'raf, ar-Ra'd, an-Nahl, Maryam, al-Hajj (2 prostrations), al-Furqan, Sad (the Prophet's and 'Umar's prostration, al-Bukhari 1075), al-Inshiqaq, al-'Alaq (2) and al-Insan. The divergence over the count (14 or 15) concerns sura Sad and al-Hajj per the schools.

Mukhtasar Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Shafi'i school, p. 240): sunna by consensus, never obligatory (the Prophet left an-Najm's prostration); 14 in the current mushaf, the hajj prostrations included ('Amr ibn al-'As's hadith: 15, 2 of them at the hajj); Sad's verse ("and he repented") is counted there as a gratitude prostration, which the school forbids inside prayer: the divergence over Sad is explained there.

How to perform the prostration of recitation

• In prayer: one prostrates directly within the prayer, then rises continuing the recitation, without standing fully up per the majority.
• Outside prayer: one says the takbir, prostrates as one rak'a with nothing else, then takbir to rise.
• Standing or sitting: both are valid; sitting after a reading done sitting is more fitting, prostration remaining subject to the body's real movement.
• Ibn Baz (Fatawa Nur ala ad-Darb, pp. 450-452): 15 prostrations, the first at the end of al-A'raf, the last at the end of Iqra; sunna, not obligation (Zayd ibn Thabit read an-Najm to the Prophet who did not prostrate: al-Bukhari 1073, Muslim 577; 'Umar's word: al-Bukhari 1077); purity is not required at the soundest view; one takbir then prostration, neither second takbir nor salam; in a loud prayer the imam prostrates and the followers follow; in a silent prayer, better abstain to avoid disturbing people.

The conditions of the prostration of recitation

Sujud at-tilawa requires ablution per the jumhur, for it is a fragment of prayer; Abu Hanifa excuses from it, treating it as simple homage. The prostration is expected of the reader and of the attentive listener; whoever passes the verse in continuous recitation without stopping is not at fault per the schools that hold it recommended rather than obligatory.

Practical note on the prostration of recitation

In printed Qurans these verses are marked by the prostration symbol in the margin: counting them once and keeping to that count removes uncertainty. It is one of the Sunna's simplest gestures: 14 or 15 prostrations spread over the annual reading of the Book.