#43. THE RULING OF THE SUJUD OF RECITATION
” Salamualaykum @ admin
My question is; is it compulsory to prostrate in places of sujud while reading the Quran? if yes, how can u do it if u are in a bus or somewhere u can’t prostrate?”
ANSWER
Wa alaykum salaam warahmatullaah wabarakaatuh.
Alhamdulillaah!
It is important to know that Sujud of Tilaawah (recitation) is of the emphatic sunnah that the Salaf never abandoned. However, it is not regarded as compulsory.
Evidence for this is what was recorded by Imaam Al-Bukhaari and Al-Athram from Amiru Al-Mu’minin Umar bn Al-Khattab – radiyallaahu an hu – that once during the Jumu’a, he recited the verse that contained the Sajdah in Suratu An-Nahl and then observed the Sajdah. On another occasion, he recited the same portion and didn’t observe the Sajdah. He then said:
: ” ﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻟﻢ ﻳﻔﺮﺽ ﻋﻠﻴﻨﺎ ﺍﻟﺴﺠﻮﺩ ﺇﻻ ﺃﻥ ﻧﺸﺎﺀ ”
“Indeed Allah did not make it obligatory upon us but that we do it if we want.”
This was done by Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab in the presence of all of the Sahaabah on the Minbar and he was not rebuked. Also it is authentically reported that Zayd bn Thaabit – radiyallaahu anhu – recited through the verse that contains the sujud in Suratu An-Najm before the Rasul – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – he didn’t observe the Sijud and the Rasul did not order him to do same.
That the Sujud of Tilaawa is Sunnah Mu’akkadah is the verdict passed by Imaam Maalik, Ash-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, Al-Awzaa’i, Al-Layth, and the majority of the Imaams.
Imaam Abi Hanifah – rahimahullaah – held that it was Waajib but the evidences as seen in the two ahaadith referred are against his position.
With the fact that it is not compulsory comes the reason not to do it in a place where doing it is either impossible or stressing like the situation depicted in the question.
Allaahu A’alam
Baarakallaahu feekum
Jazaakumullaahu khayran.
