Question (Q-100)
What is the wisdom behind the necessitation of Sajdah al-Tilāwah?
Answer:
Answer with the Help of the Almighty King, the All Knowing
There are fourteen Blessed Verses of the Noble Qur’ān which when recited or heard, necessitate Sajdah al-Tilāwah (prostration of recitation). The wisdom behind this is either that the Verse in which prostration is wājib (necessary) is condemning those who are arrogant or there is praise of those who are obedient. In order to announce freedom from arrogance and to express obedience, it is wājib (necessary) upon a believing bondsman that when he or she recites these verses or hears them then he or she performs Sajdah al-Tilāwah (prostration of recitation).
It is stated in Al-Tafsīrāt Al-Aḥmadiyyah of Mullā Jīwan رحمة الله تعالى عليه,
وقد ورد في كل موضع من آي السجدة ذم المتكبرين أو مدح المطيعين عليها
“In every place where Verses of Sajdah come, there is either the condemnation of the arrogant or the praise of the obedient.” (Al-Tafsīrāt Al-Aḥmadiyyah, exegesis of Sūrah al-Inshiqāq).
Amongst the wisdoms of performing Sajdah al-Tilāwah is that it is from the blessed actions of the Master of all creation ﷺ.
It is narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim,
عن أبي رافع قال رأيت أبا هريرة يسجد في إذا السماء انشقت فقلت تسجد فيها فقال نعم رأيت خليلي ﷺ يسجد فيها فلا أزال أسجد فيها حتى ألقاه قال شعبة قلت النبي ﷺ قال نعم
“It is narrated by Abī Rāfiʿ who stated, “I saw Abu Hurayrah performing Sajdah in Sūrah al-Inshiqāq so I said to him, “You perform Sajdah in it?” He said, “Yes. I saw my Companion ﷺ prostrating in it. I will continue prostrating in it until I meet him.” Shuʿbah said, “I said, “Do you mean the Prophet ﷺ?” He said, “Yes.””
Amongst the wisdoms of performing Sajdah al-Tilāwah is that the performance of it causes distress to the Shayṭān.
It is narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim,
عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله ﷺ إذا قرأ ابن آدم السجدة فسجد اعتزل الشيطان يبكي يقول يا ويله أمر ابن آدم بالسجود فسجد فله الجنة وأمرت بالسجود فأبيت فلي النار
“It is narrated by Abu Hurayrah رضی اللہ عنه who stated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“When the son of Ādam recites a Verse of Sajdah and then performs Sajdah, the Shayṭān moves away crying and he says, “Woe upon me. The son of Ādam was commanded to perform Sujūd and he prostrated so for him is Jannah and I was commanded to perform Sujūd and I rejected and for me is the fire.”
والله سبحانه وتعالى أعلم
Allah, Glorified is He and Exalted, knows best.
Written by: Shaykh Omar Khan (Allah preserve him)
Verified by: Mufti Shamsulhuda Khan Misbahi (May Allah preserve him)
