The ruling on prostration of recitation for one who is not in a state of ritual purity and is not facing the qiblah

Q: The brother (M. M. S.) from Latakia in Syria says in his question: If I am reading the Noble Qur'an and I am not facing the qiblah, and I come upon a verse containing a prostration of recitation, should I prostrate? Is it a condition for the prostration of recitation that a person be in a state of ritual purity? And if I am reading the Noble Qur'an while traveling by car or airplane, and I come upon a verse containing a prostration of recitation, should I prostrate while sitting on the seat? And what if I come upon it while sitting on a chair in the office or at home? We ask you to be kind enough to answer. May Allah reward you with good.

A: It is the Sunnah for one who comes upon a verse of prostration while reading to prostrate, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them); for he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite among his Companions, and when he came upon a verse containing a prostration, he would prostrate, and they would prostrate with him.
It is the Sunnah to face the qiblah if that is possible. The prostration of recitation is not like prayer; rather, it is a submission to Allah and following the example of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, the conditions of prayer are not required for it, because there is no evidence for that, and because he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite the Qur'an in his gathering among his Companions, and when he came upon a verse of prostration, he would prostrate and they would prostrate with him, and he did not say to them: "Do not prostrate except one who is in a state of ritual purity." The gatherings include those who are in a state of ritual purity and those who are not. If purity had been a condition, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have pointed that out to them; for he (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most eloquent of people, and Allah commanded him to convey the message. If purity had been a condition for the prostration of recitation, he would have conveyed that to them , and if he had conveyed it, they would have transmitted it to those after them, just as they transmitted his biography and his hadiths (peace and blessings be upon him).
If the reader is in an airplane, car, or ship, or on a mount while traveling, he should prostrate in the direction of his travel, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do in his travels during voluntary prayer. If it is possible for him to face the qiblah when beginning the voluntary prayer and then turn in the direction of his travel, that is better; for that is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in some hadiths. And Allah is the bestower of success.