Is prostration of recitation a recommended practice, and what is the evidence for those who say so?

The questioner : Now, what is the evidence of those who say that prostration of recitation is a recommended practice?

The Shaykh : There are several hadiths indicating its recommended status, including the hadith established in al-Bukhari from Zayd ibn Thabit,

The questioner : which is in the two authentic collections.

The Shaykh : It is authentic that he recited Surat al-Najm in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order him to prostrate. If it had been obligatory, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have ordered him to do so.

The questioner : This is one point.

The Shaykh : And this is part of the Sunnah. Yes. What is the second piece of evidence?

The questioner : From Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he saw our master Yahya delivering the Friday sermon, he descended from the vehicle during the other Friday sermon and did not prostrate.

The Shaykh : He recited the prostration verse in Surat al-Nahl on the pulpit on Friday, so he descended and prostrated, and he recited it on the second Friday but did not

The questioner : Hmm. Hmm.

The Shaykh : Yes, and he said

The questioner : that Allah the Exalted commanded us regarding the prostration. No, no, He commanded us regarding the prostration.

The Shaykh : No.

The questioner : He said: Whoever prostrates has done what is right.

The Shaykh : No one. No one.

The questioner : That Allah favored. That Allah did not favor.

The Shaykh : And that prostration is only for the walking ones.

The questioner : That Allah did not make prostration obligatory upon us except that we will it. Now.

The Shaykh : The indication from the report of 'Umar.

The questioner : That 'Umar delivered the sermon once and left it once.

The Shaykh : If he did it with...

The questioner : He also did it, his saying, his saying that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, did not make the prostration of the walking ones obligatory upon us for its sake.

The Shaykh : Except that we will it, meaning except that we will it to be obligatory.

The questioner : Because of our excuse.

The Shaykh : Meaning, but if we will, we do it, and if we will, we do not do it, so the exception is disconnected, and is it not?

The questioner : The action of 'Umar and his saying.

The Shaykh : A Companion. Sound?

The questioner : And the approval of the Companions for it.

The Shaykh : Yes. All right.