Sujud al-Tilawah (Prostration of Recitation)
A prostration performed when reciting or hearing specific Quranic verses.
Sujud al-Tilawah is a prostration (sujud) performed when one recites or hears one of the Quranic verses that contain an invitation to prostrate. According to the majority of Sunni scholars, there are 15 places in the Quran where sujud al-tilawah is prescribed.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: "We prostrated with the Prophet (peace be upon him) at the recitation of 'Idha al-Sama' Inshaqqat' (Surah 84) and 'Iqra' Bismi Rabbika' (Surah 96)." This sujud can be performed both within and outside of prayer.
The Hanafi school considers sujud al-tilawah obligatory (wajib), while the three other schools regard it as strongly recommended (sunnah mu'akkadah). The conditions for sujud al-tilawah vary between the schools — the Hanafi school requires wudu and facing the qibla, while the Hanbali school does not require wudu for sujud outside of prayer.
Related terms
Du'a al-Iftitah (The Opening Supplication)
A beautiful supplication recited during Ramadan nights, attributed to Imam al-Mahdi.
Sunan Abu Dawud (Abu Dawud's Hadith Collection)
One of the six canonical hadith collections in Sunni Islam with a special focus on legal narrations.
Adab al-Salah (Prayer Etiquette)
The recommended norms and inner attitudes that enrich the prayer.
Qasr (Shortened Prayer)
The permission to shorten the four-rak'ah prayers to two rak'ah during travel.
Waqt (Prayer Time)
The specific time interval within which a prayer must be performed.
Tayammum (Dry Purification)
Ritual purification with clean earth, when water is not available.