What is the ruling on prostration of recitation if the verses of prostration are repeated?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh! Regarding prostration of recitation, if a person is reciting the Qur'an and comes upon a verse of prostration, is he required to prostrate, or should he follow the example of the scholars who, for instance, do not prostrate when explaining a verse in Surat al-Sajdah?
The Shaykh : Follow the example of whom?
The questioner : Follow the example of the scholar who, for instance, does not prostrate when explaining a verse in Surat al-Sajdah...
The Shaykh : First, regarding your question about whether he is required to prostrate, we say: he is not required to prostrate, whether the verses are repeated or not. Prostration of recitation is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. The evidence for this is "that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) recited in one of the congregations a verse containing a prostration, which is the one in Surat al-Nahl, so he came down and prostrated. Then he recited it in another Friday congregation and did not prostrate. Then he said: 'Allah has not made prostration obligatory upon us except that we may do it if we wish'". So prostration of recitation is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. And if the verses are repeated, if the person is repeating to memorize the Qur'an, his first prostration suffices for the rest, and there is no need to repeat the prostration. But if he is reciting, for example, in Surat al-Hajj, and he prostrated at the first prostration and the second prostration came, let him prostrate. And if the interval is not long, this is the detail in the issue of repetition in prostration. Yes.
The Shaykh : Follow the example of whom?
The questioner : Follow the example of the scholar who, for instance, does not prostrate when explaining a verse in Surat al-Sajdah...
The Shaykh : First, regarding your question about whether he is required to prostrate, we say: he is not required to prostrate, whether the verses are repeated or not. Prostration of recitation is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. The evidence for this is "that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) recited in one of the congregations a verse containing a prostration, which is the one in Surat al-Nahl, so he came down and prostrated. Then he recited it in another Friday congregation and did not prostrate. Then he said: 'Allah has not made prostration obligatory upon us except that we may do it if we wish'". So prostration of recitation is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. And if the verses are repeated, if the person is repeating to memorize the Qur'an, his first prostration suffices for the rest, and there is no need to repeat the prostration. But if he is reciting, for example, in Surat al-Hajj, and he prostrated at the first prostration and the second prostration came, let him prostrate. And if the interval is not long, this is the detail in the issue of repetition in prostration. Yes.