Volume - V / CHAPTER - 2 / LESSON NO: 10
OF "SAJDATUT TILAAWAH"
Q 1: What is "Sajdatut Tilaawah"?
A. There are some stages (verses) in the Holy Quran which, if recited of heard, make Sajdah essential for the reciter and listener. This is called "Sajdatut Tilaawah".
Q 2: How many stages (verses) are there in the Holy Quran whose recitation or hearing make Sajdah essential?
A. There are total fourteen "Ayatus Sijdah" (verses of prostration) in the whole Quran as per our creed. Four are in the first half and ten in the second half of the Quran. The mention of Sajdah in the last verse of Surah Hajj does not make Sajdah essential for the reciter and listener as it means "prostration of prayer" not of verse.
Q 3: When and for whom does Sajdatut Tilaawah become Waajib?
A. Sajdatut Tilaawah becomes Waajib for every sane and mature Muslim (i.e. upon whom prayer is obligatory) on reciting or hearing the verse of prostration provided that the recitation is so aloud that listener himself could hear it if there is no obstacle. Unintentional hearing of the verse of prostration also makes Sajdah essential.
Q 4: What are the conditions of Sajdatut Tilaawah?
A. The conditions of Sajdatut Tilaawah are the same as that of prayer's except for "Tahreemah". For instance, purification, facing the Qiblah, intention, covering from the navel to knees. Sajdah of the verse of prostration, if recited in prayer, will have to be immediately offered in prayer. It will not be valid if offered after the prayer is over. It is sinful to leave it out deliberately in
prayer and begging forgiveness is must.
However, Sajdatut Tilaawah will deem to have been
observed if one performs Sajdah of prayer soon after reciting the verse of prostration i.e. does not recite more than three verses after the recitation of Ayatus Sijdah and observes Rukoo and Sujood, even though he did not intend to do Sajdatut Tilaawah.
Q 5: What is the accepted method of Sajdatut Tilaawah?
A. The accepted method of Sajdatut Tilaawah is that one should stand upright and then go into prostration saying "Allah-o-Akbar". He should recite "Subhaana Rabiyal 'Alaa" at least thrice and then stand up saying "Allah-o-Akbar". Sajdah will be in order if one does not stand upright at the beginning and in the end of it. But it is against the practice of our "Salaf '(respected elders). Neither the hands are to be raised in Sajdatut Tilaawah nor Tashah-hud to be recited nor Salaam to be said.
Q 6: Can observance of Sajdatut Tilaawah be delayed or not?
A. It is not Waajib for one to observe Sajdatut Tilaawah immediately in case he recites Ayatus Sijdah out of prayer but it is better to observe it the very time. Delaying it inspite of being in the state of ablution is Makrooh Tanzeehi. It is commendable for reciter and listener to say "Same'naa wa Ata'naa Ghufraanaka Rabbanaa wa Ilaiekal Maseer" if they can not observe Sajdatut Tilaawah on time due to any excuse.
Q 7: Which things render Sajdatut Tilaawah void?
A. All those things,acts which render prayer void also nullify Sajdatut Tilaawah. For example, to burst into laughter or to talk to somebody.
Q 8: How many Sajdahs will become Waajib if Ayatus Sijdah is repeated?
A. Only one Sajdah will be Waajib for reciter and listener if Ayatus Sijdah is recited repeatedly in one sitting,meeting even though one heard several persons reciting it and in case one moves to the other sitting and recites or listens to Ayatus Sijdah there then he will have to observe Sajdahs as many times as he recited or listened to. If different verses of prostration are recited in a sitting meeting, the reciter and listener will have to observe Sajdahs as many times as he recited or listened. One Sajdah will not suffice to fulfill Waajib.
Q 9: How is that for leaving out Ayatus Sijdah in Tilaawah?
A. It is Makrooh Tahreemi to recite whole of the Surah dropping Ayatus Sijdah. There is no undesirability in reciting only Ayatus Sijdah. Muslim scholars say if one recites all the fourteen verses of prostration for any need in one sitting,meeting and also observes Sajdahs, Allah Almighty will fulfill his need. It is optional for him either to recite each Ayatus Sijdah separately coupled with its Sajdah or recite all verses of prostration in succession and then observe all the fourteen Sajdahs in the end.
Q10: Will Sajdah be Waajib or not if Ayatus Sijdah is spelt out?
A. Sajdah will not become Waajib for the one who spells Ayatus Sijdah or hears it being spelt out. Likewise, the voice of the reciter of Ayatus Sijdah echoes in forest or mountains and reaches the ears of somebody, Sajdah will not be Waajib for him.
Q11: How is that for reciting Ayatus Sijdah in a low voice during Tilaawah?
A. It is better to recite Ayatus Sijdah in a low voice when it is not known whether the listeners are willing to observe Sajdah or not. And in case, they are willing to and that Sajdah will not burden them then it is better to recite Ayatus Sijdah aloud.
Q12: How to make "Niyah" for Sajdatut Tilaawah?
A. One should intend saying "I observe Sajdatut Tilaawah for the sake of Allah".
Q13: What is "Sajdatush Shukr" and how is it observed?
A. ""Sajdatush Shukr" (prostration in gratitude) is observed on getting any divine favour. For instance, a child is borne to somebody or someone got wealth or found his lost (valuable) thing or a sick recovered or traveller reached his home safe and sound. To observe Sajdatush Shukr is "Mustahab" (commendable act) and its method is the same as that of Sajdatut Tilaawah.