When we pass a prostration during the recitation of the Qur'an, is it obligatory or a recommended practice? How many prostrations are there in the Qur'an, and what does the one who prostrates say in them?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: When we pass a prostration, is this prostration obligatory or a recommended practice? How many prostrations are there in the Qur'an, and what does the one who prostrates say at the beginning of the prostration? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Prostration of recitation is not obligatory according to the correct view. The evidence for this is the hadith of Zayd ibn Arqam that he recited Surat al-Najm to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not prostrate in it. It is also authentically reported from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he recited the prostration verse in Surat al-Nahl on the pulpit, then he came down and prostrated. Then he recited it in the second Friday prayer and did not prostrate, and he said: "Allah has not made prostration obligatory upon us except that we may do it if we wish". As for the number of prostrations in the Noble Qur'an, the prostrations are specified and clarified, and they are fourteen prostrations, of which two are in Surat al-Hajj.
As for what he says when he prostrates, if he is in prayer, meaning a prostration verse passed him while he was in prayer, he says Allahu Akbar when he prostrates and says Allahu Akbar when he raises his head. He says in the prostration: "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" and he says: "O Allah, to You I prostrate, in You I believe, and upon You I rely. My face prostrates to Allah who created it, formed it, and opened its hearing and sight. So Blessed is Allah, the best of creators. O Allah, write for me by it a reward, remove from me by it a burden, make it for me a store with You, and accept it from me as You accepted it from Your servant Dawud". And if he is not in prayer, he says Allahu Akbar when he prostrates and says the supplication I mentioned, then he rises from the prostration without saying Allahu Akbar or the closing salam.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Prostration of recitation is not obligatory according to the correct view. The evidence for this is the hadith of Zayd ibn Arqam that he recited Surat al-Najm to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not prostrate in it. It is also authentically reported from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he recited the prostration verse in Surat al-Nahl on the pulpit, then he came down and prostrated. Then he recited it in the second Friday prayer and did not prostrate, and he said: "Allah has not made prostration obligatory upon us except that we may do it if we wish". As for the number of prostrations in the Noble Qur'an, the prostrations are specified and clarified, and they are fourteen prostrations, of which two are in Surat al-Hajj.
As for what he says when he prostrates, if he is in prayer, meaning a prostration verse passed him while he was in prayer, he says Allahu Akbar when he prostrates and says Allahu Akbar when he raises his head. He says in the prostration: "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" and he says: "O Allah, to You I prostrate, in You I believe, and upon You I rely. My face prostrates to Allah who created it, formed it, and opened its hearing and sight. So Blessed is Allah, the best of creators. O Allah, write for me by it a reward, remove from me by it a burden, make it for me a store with You, and accept it from me as You accepted it from Your servant Dawud". And if he is not in prayer, he says Allahu Akbar when he prostrates and says the supplication I mentioned, then he rises from the prostration without saying Allahu Akbar or the closing salam.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.