Sujood At-Tilawah


There are fifteen (15) verses in the  Holy Qu'ran that praises those who "prostrate to Allah", fourteen (14) depending on your view of things. By Showing humility to Allah , bowing down and prostrating to Allah alone; be it in our daily prayers or upon hearing good new, is what separates believers from unbelievers. Muslims prostrate several times in their daily prayers and when we come across these verses we should perform an extra prostration, to show our willingness to humble ourselves before Allah. This extra prostration is known as "Sujood At-Tilawah" - the prostration of recitation. Times We Observe Sujood At-Tilawah

  • If a person is reading the Qu'ran, or listening to its recitation, he or she should say takbeer and prostrate (make sujood) one time after reading one of these verses. While this is recommended, it is not an obligation to do so and it is not a sin to omit this practice.
  • If a person is praying at the recitation of such a verse, the worshipper should say "Allahu Akbar" and go directly from standing to prostrating, without bowing in between. After one sujood, the worshipper says, "Allahu Akbar," stands up and continues the prayer. If praying behind an imam, you should only make sujood al-tilawah if the imam does so.

According to most scholarly opinions, it is not necessary in this case to be in a state of wuduh, facing the qiblah, or fully/modestly dressed for this prostration, as is the requirement for solat. However, it is advisable to treat this prostration with the same level of respect and humility.

How to Find Sujood At-Tilawah

You will see that there is that line above the ayah and then later on will be the presence of the mihrab sign.

1) Surah 7 [Al Araf]: Verse 206 “Surely those who are with your Lord (the angels) are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him, but they glorify His Praise and prostrate before Him.”

2) Surah 13 [Ar Rad]: Verse 15 “And unto Allah (Alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and in the afternoons.”

3) Surah 16 [An Nahl]: Verse 49 “And to Allah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the live moving creatures and the angels, and they are not proud.”

4) Surah 17 [Al Isra]: verse 107 “Say (O Muhammad): ‘Believe in it (the Quran) or do not believe. Verily! Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration.”

5) Surah 19 [Maryam]: Verse 58 “… When the Verses of the Most Beneficent (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrating and weeping.” (19:58)

6) Surah 22 [Al Hajj]: Verse 18 “See you not that to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, all living creatures, and many of mankind?..." (22:18)

7) Surah 22 [Al Hajj]: Verse 77 “Oh you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful.” (22:77) ** Some scholars dispute this ayah as it has not fully been confirmed if early Muslims did in fact make sujood after reciting it. Hence, some scholars cite a lack of evidence for it and do not count it.

8) Surah 25 [Al Furqan]: Verse 60 “And when it is said to them: ‘Prostrate to the Most Beneficent (Allah)!’ They say, ‘And what is the Most Beneficent? Shall we fall down in prostration to that which you (O Muhammad) command us?’ And it increases in them only aversion.”

9) Surah 27 [An Naml]: Verse 25 “Satan has barred them from Allah’s way, so that they do not worship (prostrate before) Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal.”

10) Surah 32 [As Sadja]: Verse 15 “Only those believe in Our signs, who, when they are reminded of them fall down in prostration, and glorify the Praises of their Lord, and they are not proud.”

11) Surah 38 [Sad]: Verse 24 “… And Dawood (Prophet David) guessed that We had tried him and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down prostrate and turned (to Allah) in repentance.”

12) Surah 41 [Fussilat]: Verse 37 “And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Him Who created them, if you (really) worship Him.”

13) Surah 53 [An Najm]: Verse 62 “So fall down in prostration to Allah, and worship Him (Alone).”

14) Surah 84 [Al Inshiqaq]: Verse 21 “And when the Quran is recited to them, they do not fall prostrate.”

15) Surah 96 [Al Alaq]: Verse 19 ”… Fall prostrate and draw near to Allah!”


A dua for Sujood At Tilawah

“O Allah, record for me a reward for this (prostration), and remove from me a sin. Save it for me and accept it from me just as You accepted it from Your slave Daw’oud.” - At-Tirmithi 2/473

"I have prostrated my face to the One who created it, and gave me hearing and sight by His might and His Power. Glory is to Allah, the best of creators" - At-Tirmithi 2/474

**In the case where one has not committed the duas to memory, then make it to a point that you say Subhana Rabbiy al-A’ala [Glory be to my Lord].


As Muslims, we earn rewards for everyday actions done with the right intentions. We could further the amount of rewards we receive by observing this sujood upon reciting the above verses.

The Prophet (SAW) saying about Sujood At-Tilawah: "Once a person prostrates himself after reading a verse requiring the performance of sujood, shaytan starts crying and wailing in a corner, saying: ‘Alas! The children of Adam were enjoined to perform sujood and they carried it out, and become entitled to enter Paradise, but I refused to do so and was condemned to Hell." - Muslim



  • And Allah knows best. May Allah forgive me if I am wrong and guide us to the right path. Ameen.