Tarjumatul Quran - Surahs HM al-Sajdah [HM The Bowing]: 52 - al-Shura [The Consultation]: 10

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In the previous Class it was suggested that research should be undertaking regarding the problem of the Sajdah Tilawat [Bowing during the Recitation] which has been received from the centre [Rabwah].  It concerns the actions of the Holy Prophet and the Companions in relation to it:

1.  Narrated Abdullah bin Masud: The Prophet ﷺ recited Surah al-Najm at Mecca and prostrated while reciting it and those who were with him did the same except an old man who took a handful of small stones or earth and lifted it to his forehead and said ‘This is sufficient for me.’  Later on, I saw him killed as a disbeliever.

2. Narrated Ibn Umar: Whenever the Prophet ﷺ recited the Surah which contained the  Sajdah he used to prostrate and then, we, too, would prostrate and some of us (because of  overcrowding) could not find a place for prostration.

3.  Narrated Zayd bin Thabit: I recited al-Najm before the Prophet, yet he did not perform a prostration.

So can it be concluded from this that it is not obligatory to go into prostration when someone else is reciting if he is not the Imam.  The Hanafis consider the prostration to be important and many of the other jurists declare it to be an optional act as happened during the recitation of Surah al-Najm.  Where the Holy Prophet ﷺ performed the prostration it was he who was himself reciting.  The recitation of another had no effect upon him.  It means that if one is reciting themselves they should go into prostration.  Other people apart from the Hanafis that if not to prostrate had been a sin the Noble Prophet would have said to Zayd that ‘You are reciting so why do you not prostrating?’

Another narration is that:

Narrated Rabia: Umar bin al-Khattab recited Surah al-Nahl on a Friday on the pulpit and when he reached the verse of Sajdah he got down from the pulpit and prostrated and the people also prostrated. The next Friday Umar bin al-Khattab recited the same Surah and when he reached the verse of Sajdah he said ‘O people! When we recite the verses of Sajdah (during the sermon) whoever prostrates does the right thing, yet it is no sin for the one who does not prostrate.’  Umar did not prostrate (that day). Added Ibn Umar ‘Allah has not made the prostration of recitation compulsory but if we wish we can do it.’

(Muhammad ibn Ismail Bukhari, ‘Sahih Bukhari: ii’.  Tr, Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan.  9 vols.  Darussalam, 1997.  117, 119 - 121).

So no Companion disputed whatever Hazrat Umar said during the sermon about the Sahjdah Tilawat so this was not just the opinion of Hazrat Umar but the consensus of opinion.  To prostrate would be a rewarding act but not to do it is not a sin.  The Hanafis say that this was Hazrat Umar’s personal inference.

Hazrat Umar knew and understood the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ better.  Moreover the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has given importance to the consensus of opinion.  Personally I feel more inclined to believe that one should go into prostration as far as possible as it satisfies the soul.

Verse 6: For the angels to repent on behalf of the pious people is something that gives hope to the faithful and their repentance would also be accepted on behalf of the deserving.  Also this is an expression of the mercy of Allah the Almighty.  The pious are inclined to pray for those whom Allah the Almighty wishes to save.  The angels mean the angelic people who would offer repentance.  This also means that they would also pray for such sinners who are likely to be grabbed.  So you that is ‘O Messenger of God! You should also repent on their behalf because you have been given licence and your intercession is permitted.


2 June 1998.

© The Tahir Archive / MTA International, 2016.
Tarjumatul Quran - Surahs HM al-Sajdah [HM The Bowing]: 52 - al-Shura [The Consultation]: 10

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