Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Prostration while reciting the Qur'an

Chapter 1Chapter: How Many Places Are There In The Qur'an Where Prostration Is Required

Weak No. 1401

The Prophet (ﷺ) taught me fifteen prostrations while reciting the Qur'an, including three in al-Mufassal and two in Surah al-Hajj. Abu Dawud said: Abu al-Darda' has reported eleven prostrations from the Prophet (ﷺ), but chain of this tradition is weak.

أَقْرَأَهُ خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ سَجْدَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ مِنْهَا ثَلاَثٌ فِي الْمُفَصَّلِ وَفِي سُورَةِ الْحَجِّ سَجْدَتَانِ ‏

Narrated by Amr ibn al-‘Ās + 2 other versions

Differing grades No. 1402

I said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Are there two prostrations in Surah al-Hajj? He replied: Yes; if anyone does not make two prostrations, he should not recite them.

نَعَمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْجُدْهُمَا فَلاَ يَقْرَأْهُمَا ‏"

Narrated by Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir + 4 other versions

Chapter 2Chapter: A View That There Is No Prostration In Mufassal Surahs

Weak No. 1403

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not make a prostration at any verse in al-Mufassal from the time he moved to Medina.

لَمْ يَسْجُدْ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ مُنْذُ تَحَوَّلَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 1 other version

Authentic No. 1404

"I recited to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (Surat) An-Najm and he did not prostrate in it."

قَرَأْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّجْمَ فَلَمْ يَسْجُدْ فِيهَا ‏

Narrated by Zayd ibn Thābit + 2 other versions

Differing grades No. 1405

Zaid was imam (in a prayer) and he did not make prostration.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ السَّرْحِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو صَخْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ قُسَيْطٍ، عَنْ خَارِجَةَ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَعْنَاهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو…

Narrated by Zayd ibn Thābit

Chapter 3Chapter: A View That There Is Prostration In Mufassal Surahs

Authentic No. 1406

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Surah al-Najm and prostrated himself. No one remained there who did not prostrate (along with him). A man from the people took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his face saying: This is enough for me. 'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud) said: I later saw him killed…

قَرَأَ سُورَةَ النَّجْمِ فَسَجَدَ فِيهَا وَمَا بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ إِلاَّ سَجَدَ فَأَخَذَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ كَفًّا مِنْ حَصًى أَوْ تُرَابٍ فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى وَجْهِهِ وَقَالَ يَكْفِينِي هَذَا ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 2 other versions

Chapter 4Chapter: Prostration In Surah's Inshiqaq And Iqra'

Authentic No. 1407

We prostrated ourselves along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on account of: "When the sky is rent asunder" and "Recite in the name of Your Lord Who created"

سَجَدْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ‏‏{‏ إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ ‏}‏ وَ ‏‏{‏ اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ‏}‏ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 20 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 1408

I offered the night prayer behind Abu Hurairah. He recited Surah Inshiqaq ("When the sky is rent asunder") and prostrated himself. I asked him: What is this prostration ? He replied: I prostrated myself on account of this (surah) behind Abu al-Qasim (i.e. the Prophet). I shall continue prostrating…

سَجَدْتُ بِهَا خَلْفَ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ أَزَالُ أَسْجُدُ بِهَا حَتَّى أَلْقَاهُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 14 other versions

Chapter 5Chapter: The Prostration In Surah Sad

Authentic No. 1409

A prostration when reciting Sad is not one of those which are divinely commanded, but I have seen Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prostrate himself.

لَيْسَ ‏{‏ ص ‏}‏ مِنْ عَزَائِمِ السُّجُودِ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْجُدُ فِيهَا ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 5 other versions

Differing grades No. 1410

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited surah Sad on the pulpit. When he reached the place of prostration (in the surah), he descended and prostrated himself and the people prostrated with him. When the next day came, he recited it. When he reached the place of prostration (in the surah), the people…

إِنَّمَا هِيَ تَوْبَةُ نَبِيٍّ وَلَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُكُمْ تَشَزَّنْتُمْ لِلسُّجُودِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَنَزَلَ فَسَجَدَ وَسَجَدُوا ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Chapter 6Chapter: A Person On A Mount Hears A Verse Of Prostration, Or Someone Who Is Not Praying (Should He Prostrate?)

Weak No. 1411

In the year of Conquest the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited a verse at which a prostration should be made and all the people prostrated themselves. Some were mounted, and some were prostrating themselves on the ground, and those who were mounted prostrated themselves on their hands.

قَرَأَ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ سَجْدَةً فَسَجَدَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الرَّاكِبُ وَالسَّاجِدُ فِي الأَرْضِ حَتَّى إِنَّ الرَّاكِبَ لَيَسْجُدُ عَلَى يَدِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

Authentic No. 1412

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite to us a surah (according to the version of Ibn Numair) outside the prayer (the agreed version goes), then he would prostrate along with him, and none of us could find a place for his forehead.

يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْنَا السُّورَةَ - قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ فِي غَيْرِ الصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا - فَيَسْجُدُ وَنَسْجُدُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى لاَ يَجِدُ أَحَدُنَا مَكَانًا لِمَوْضِعِ جَبْهَتِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 3 other versions

Weak No. 1413

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur'an to us. When he came upon the verse containing prostration, he would utter the takbir (Allah is most great) and we would prostrate ourselves along with him. The narrator 'Abd al-Razzaq said: Al-Thawri liked this tradition very much. Abu Dawud…

يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْنَا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِذَا مَرَّ بِالسَّجْدَةِ كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ وَسَجَدْنَا ‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 2 other versions

Chapter 7Chapter: What Should One Say In Prostration ?

Differing grades No. 1414

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prostrated himself at night when reciting the Qur'an. He said repeatedly: My face prostrates itself to Him Who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power.

سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 6 other versions

Chapter 8Chapter: One Who Recites A Verse Of Prostration After Subh

Weak No. 1415

When we came to Medina accompanying the caravan, I used to preach after the dawn prayer, and prostrate on account of the recitation of the Qur'an. Ibn Umar prohibited me three times, but I did not cease doing that. He then repeated (his prohibition) saying: I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah…

إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ - رضى الله عنهم - فَلَمْ يَسْجُدُوا حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar