If a person does not prostrate while reciting, and when he passes a verse of prostration, does he commit a sin or what?

The questioner : If a person does not prostrate while reciting and when he passes a verse of prostration, does he commit a sin or not?

The Shaykh : The correct view is that he does not commit a sin, and that prostration of recitation is a recommended practice (sunnah). If a person performs it, he is rewarded for it, and if he leaves it, he owes nothing. This is because it is established in *Sahih al-Bukhari* that the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), delivered a sermon to the people and passed a verse of prostration, so he descended from the pulpit and prostrated. Then he delivered a sermon to them on the second Friday and passed a verse of prostration but did not prostrate. Then he said: "Allah has not made prostration obligatory upon us except that we may do it if we wish". This occurred in the presence of a large number of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The correct view among the scholars is that prostration of recitation is not obligatory, and that if a person prostrates, he is rewarded for it, and if he does not prostrate, he owes nothing. This is also indicated by the statement of Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him): . This is because Zayd ibn Thabit was the reciter, and when he did not prostrate, the listeners did not prostrate. If prostration of recitation had been obligatory, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have approved of Zayd ibn Thabit leaving it.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.