Fatwa ID: 03978

Answered by: Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani

Sajdah e tilawat is such an action which the Prophet ﷺ and his companions (رضي الله عنهم) performed. As believers, we must understand that whatever Allah تعالى or His messenger ﷺ commands us to do, we must comply irrespective of whether we understand the wisdom or not; this is the demand of faith and being a slave of Allah تعالى.

Nevertheless, one wisdom of performing sajdah e tilawat is that a person distinguishes himself from those who disbelieve in Allah تعالى and do not prostrate to Him. It is established from the Quran that refusal to prostrate, after the Quran has been recited, is blameworthy and the way of the nonbelievers. Allah تعالى says, “When the Quran is recited unto them, they do not prostrate.” (Surah Al-Inshiqaq: v. 21) Thus, prostration to Allah تعالى, after hearing the Quran (i.e. ayats of sajdah), is a salient feature of the believers, therefore we must perform it.[1]

In addition, by prostrating after reciting or hearing an ayat of sajdah, one opposes Shaytan who refused to prostrate to Adam عليه السلام. It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When the son of Adam recites an ayat of sajdah then prostrates, Shaytan withdraws weeping, saying, ‘Oh my grief and destruction! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, thus for him is Paradise. However, I was commanded to prostrate but I refused, consequently for me is the Fire.’”[2]

Only Allah knows best