7. Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Prostration while reciting the Qur'an

【1】

How Many Places Are There In The Qur'an Where Prostration Is Required

Narrated Amr ibn al-'As: The Prophet (ﷺ) taught me fifteen prostrations while reciting the Qur'an, including three in al-Mufassal and two in Surah al-Hajj. Abu Dawud said: Abu al-Darda' has reported eleven prostrations from the Prophet (ﷺ), but chain of this tradition is weak. Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir: I said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Are there two prostrations in Surah al-Hajj? He replied: Yes; if anyone does not make two prostrations, he should not recite them.

【2】

A View That There Is No Prostration In Mufassal Surahs

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not make a prostration at any verse in al-Mufassal from the time he moved to Medina. On the authority of Zaid bin Thabit, he said: "I recited to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (Surat) An-Najm and he did not prostrate in it." This tradition has also been transmitted by Zaid b. Thabit through a different chain of narrators to the same effect.Abu Dawud said: Zaid was imam (in a prayer) and he did not make prostration.

【3】

A View That There Is Prostration In Mufassal Surahs

Narrated 'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Surah al-Najm and prostrated himself. No one remained there who did not prostrate (along with him). A man from the people took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his face saying: This is enough for me. 'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud) said: I later saw him killed as an infidel.

【4】

Prostration In Surah's Inshiqaq And Iqra'

Narrated Abu Hurairah: We prostrated ourselves along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on account of: "When the sky is rent asunder" and "Recite in the name of Your Lord Who created" Narrated Abu Rafi': I offered the night prayer behind Abu Hurairah. He recited Surah Inshiqaq ("When the sky is rent asunder") and prostrated himself. I asked him: What is this prostration ? He replied: I prostrated myself on account of this (surah) behind Abu al-Qasim (i.e. the Prophet). I shall continue prostrating on account of this till I meet him.

【5】

The Prostration In Surah Sad

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: A prostration when reciting Sad is not one of those which are divinely commanded, but I have seen Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prostrate himself. Narrated Sa'id al-Khudri: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited surah Sad on the pulpit. When he reached the place of prostration (in the surah), he descended and prostrated himself and the people prostrated with him. When the next day came, he recited it. When he reached the place of prostration (in the surah), the people became ready for prostration. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: This is the repentance of a Prophet ; but I saw you being ready for prostration. So he descended and prostrated himself and the people prostrated along with him.

【6】

A Person On A Mount Hears A Verse Of Prostration, Or Someone Who Is Not Praying (Should He Prostrate?)

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: In the year of Conquest the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited a verse at which a prostration should be made and all the people prostrated themselves. Some were mounted, and some were prostrating themselves on the ground, and those who were mounted prostrated themselves on their hands. Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite to us a surah (according to the version of Ibn Numair) outside the prayer (the agreed version goes), then he would prostrate along with him, and none of us could find a place for his forehead. Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur'an to us. When he came upon the verse containing prostration, he would utter the takbir (Allah is most great) and we would prostrate ourselves along with him. The narrator 'Abd al-Razzaq said: Al-Thawri liked this tradition very much. Abu Dawud said: This was liked by him for this contains the uttering of takbir.

【7】

What Should One Say In Prostration ?

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prostrated himself at night when reciting the Qur'an. He said repeatedly: My face prostrates itself to Him Who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power.

【8】

One Who Recites A Verse Of Prostration After Subh

Narrated AbuTamimah al-Hujaymi: When we came to Medina accompanying the caravan, I used to preach after the dawn prayer, and prostrate on account of the recitation of the Qur'an. Ibn Umar prohibited me three times, but I did not cease doing that. He then repeated (his prohibition) saying: I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), AbuBakr, Umar and Uthman, they would not prostrate (on account of the recitation of the Qur'an) till the sun had risen.