Ayats (verses) Requiring Sajda-e-Tilawat:
Surah Al A’Raf (7) Ayat 206
Surah Al Ra’d (13) Ayat 15
Surah Al Nahl (16) Ayat 50
Surah Bani Israil (17) Ayat 109
Surah Maryum (19) Ayat 58
Surah Al Haj (22) Ayat 18
Surah Al Haj (22) Ayat 77 (Shafi)
Surah Al Farqan (25) Ayat 60
Surah Al Naml (27) Ayat 26
Surah As Sajdah (32) Ayat 15
Surah Sa’d (38) Ayat 24 (Hanafi)
Surah Hamim Sajdah (41) Ayat 38
Surah Al Najam (53) Ayat 62
Surah Inshiqaq (84) Ayat 21
Surah Al Alaq (96) Ayat 19
Sajdah tilawat is the sajdah that one has to perform as an obligatory duty when one reads, recites, or hears, in the prayer or outside, some specific verses containing those words. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has observed, "One 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)
There are four pre-requirements:
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Purity of body, clothes, and place of sajdah. -
Covering of satr. -
Turning your face toward qiblah. -
Intention of performing sajdah.
Procedure
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Stand facing the qiblah. -
Express the necessary intention. -
Go down for sajdah with Allahu-Akbar. -
Rise up with Allahu-Akbar after sajdah.
"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)
Regulations
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It is obligatory for those persons only who have to perform and observe the prayers (for example it is not obligatory for a child). -
If a verse requiring a sajdah has been recited inside the prayer, the sajdah has to be performed forthwith, but if the verse is recited outside the prayer, it is preferable to perform sajdah soon afterwards, but one may perform it later as well. -
If a verse requiring the performance of sajdah has been recited in a particular prayer, it is obligatory to perform the sajdah in the same prayer, neither outside it nor in another prayer. If a sajdah is omitted in forgetfulness, one should ask Allah for forgiveness. -
If a person hears a verse requiring a sajdah, being recited by the Imam, but joins the congregation when the Imam has already performed it, he will perform the sajdah after completing his prayer. There will be no need for performing the sajdah later if the follower has joined the congregation in the rak'ah in which the sajdah is performed by the Imam. -
If a person recites a verse requiring a sajdah in the mind but does not utter it aloud or only writes it, he will not be required to perform the sajdah. -
If the verse requiring a sajdah is recited over and over again in the same sitting, only one sajdah will have to be performed, but if more than one verse requiring sajdahs are recited, the number of sajdahs to be performed will be the same as the number of the verses recited. Similarly, if the verse requiring a sajdah is repeated in different sittings, the number of sajdahs to be performed will be according to the number of sittings. -
Some ignorant people prostrate themselves on the Qur'an itself when they have recited a verse requiring a sajdah. This is not valid.
There are 14 Aayaat of the Qur’an after the recital of which Sajdatut Tilawat has to be made. These are indicated by the word ‘As Sajdah’ shown in the margin and also on the specific Aayaat. (Note: The second Sajdah in Surah Haj is to be performed by the Shafi’ees, and the Sajdah in Surah Saad is not a Sajdatut Tilawat for the Shafi’ees. This is a Sajdatush Shukr for the Shafi’ees and should be performed only out of Salat.The niyyah(intention) for this is: ‘Nawaytu Sajdatush Shukri lillahi Ta’aala’).
According to the Shafi’es and Hanafis there are 14 sajda tilawat in the Noble Quran. The Hanbalis state that there are 15 sajdas whilst the Malikis say that there are eleven sajda tilawat in the Noble Quran.
When reciting or listening to the Qur’an and on reaching any of these Aayaat it is Waajib to perform a single Sajdah, according to the Hanafi’s. According to Imaam Shafi’ee Rahmatullahi Alayh it is Sunnah. The Hanafi scholars say that it is compulsory upon the reciter and listener to perform the 14 sajdas. The vast majority of jurists, namely, Malikis, Shafi’es, Hanbalis state that it is sunnah and not compulsory. However if one is unable to perform the Sajdah at once then it could be performed soon after. This Sajdah is not Waajib for women when they are in a state of Haidh or Nifaas.
If an Aayat of Sajdah is read in Salaat then the Sajdah must be made immediately in the Salaat. The method of performing Sajdatut Tilawat in Salaat is to complete the Aayat and then immediately go down into Sajdah whilst saying Allahu Akbar. After the Sajdah return to the standing position whilst saying Allahu Akbar and continue recital without first reading ‘Bismillah’.
If an Aayat of Sajdah is repeated several times while seated in one place then only one Sajdah is Waajib. When one Sajdah Aayat is read at several different places or if separate Aayaat are recited at various places then the corresponding number of Sajdahs will have to be performed A small house, or the chamber of the Masjid is regarded as one place. It is desirable to read the Aayat of Sajda inaudibly to avoid making the Sajdah Waaj’ib on others who are within hearing distance. It is makrooh to recite the Qur’an and deliberately omit reading the Aayat of Sajdah to avoid performing the Sajdah.
How to Perform The Sajda Tilawat
The same conditions regarding Tahaarat, Wudhu etc. that apply to Salat are applicable to Sajdatut Tilaawat. Sajdatut Tilawat is prohibited whilst the sun is rising, precisely at noon, and from the time the colour of the sun changes before sunset until the sun has fully set.
The Hanafi method: It is Mustahab (desirable) to stand up and say: ‘Allahu Akbar’ without raising the hands; then go straight down into Sajdah; read ‘Subhaana Rabbiyal A’ala’ three times; arise out of Sajdah and ‘whilst standing up say; ‘Allahu Akbar’. There is no Tasleem (Salaam) after standing up. Although it is better to begin and end this Sajdah from a standing position, it is also correct to commence and terminate it from the Jalsa (sitting) position.
The Shafi’ee method:
First say the niyat for Sajdatut Tilawat thus: ‘Nawaytu Sajdatut Tilaawati lillahi Ta’ala’ . Then recite the Takbeeratul Ihraam(whilst lifting hands as in salaat) by saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ and perform one sajdah. Thereafter whilst standing up say the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and then recite the Tasleem(salaam) to complete the sajdah.
FORBIDDEN AND MAKROOH TIMES
At sunrise, Istiwaa and Sunset- No Salaah at all, no Sajdah at-Tilaawah either
From Subh Saadiq till after sunrise– No Nawafil must be prayed. Qadhaa and Sajdah at-Tilaawah are allowed.
No Nawaafil allowed after Asr. Qadhaa and Sajdah at-Tilaawah are allowed. But when the sun becomes pale, Qadhaa Salaah must be stopped too.
Asr can be prayed even after the sun has paled - but it is Makrooh
Subh Saadiq means dawn
Isfaar means to pray Fajr at a time when it is proper light. To delay fajr salaat leaving enough time before sunrise whereby the salaat can be offered properly according to sunnah and it is possible to repeat it in the same manner with fresh wudhu if the need arises. This is only mustahab for males
Taglees means to pray salaat whilst it is still dark (at beginning time). Ladies should try and pray at this time.
Ibraad means to pray zuhr at a cooler time in summer. (But before the end time)
Ta’jeel means to pray Zuhr early (at beginning time) in cooler seasons
Mithlain – when the shadow of an object becomes twice its size(excluding shadow at midday)it is called mithlain. When it becomes one time its size it is called mithl.
Shafaqe Abyadh – This is the whiteness that is seen after sunset on the western sky
The wisdom in delaying Asr is so that nawafil can be prayed as much as possible. Because after Asr nawafil is makrooh.
The wisdom of delaying Ishaa is that people will go straight to sleep after namaz. They will not waste time in useless activities which are forbidden by Nabi Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam.