📜 Fiqh of Special Prayers
📖 Prostrations of Recitation and Gratitude
All praise be to Allah who taught us the Quran and guided us to gratitude. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. These prostrations are acts of humility before Allah, either during recitation of certain verses, or in thankfulness for a blessing.
Part 1: Prostration of Recitation (Sujud At-Tilawa)
🔍 1. Definition and Status
📋 Definition
The prostration of recitation is a prostration performed when reading or hearing certain verses of the Quran called "prostration verses" (آيات السجدة).
⚠️ Difference on status
| School | Status |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Emphasized Sunna |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Wajib (obligatory) |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Emphasized Sunna |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Emphasized Sunna |
🔷 2. Prostration Positions in the Quran
⚠️ MAJOR DIFFERENCE: Number of positions
| School | Number | Detail |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | 11 positions | Exclude Al-Hajj (2nd), Sad, An-Najm, Al-Inshiqaq |
| 🟢 Hanafi | 14 positions | Include all except 2nd of Al-Hajj |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | 14 positions | Include Al-Hajj (2nd) |
| 🟣 Hanbali | 15 positions | Include the Mufassal |
📋 The 11 positions according to Malikis
| # | Surah | Verse |
|---|
| 1 | Al-A'raf (7) | 206 |
| 2 | Ar-Ra'd (13) | 15 |
| 3 | An-Nahl (16) | 50 |
| 4 | Al-Isra' (17) | 109 |
| 5 | Maryam (19) | 58 |
| 6 | Al-Hajj (22) | 18 |
| 7 | Al-Furqan (25) | 60 |
| 8 | An-Naml (27) | 26 |
| 9 | As-Sajdah (32) | 15 |
| 10 | Fussilat (41) | 38 |
| 11 | Al-'Alaq (96) | 19 |
📚 3. Description of the Prostration
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Takbir when going down |
| 2 | Normal prostration |
| 3 | Supplication in sujud |
| 4 | Takbir when rising |
| 5 | No taslim according to Malikis |
Part 2: Prostration of Gratitude (Sujud Ash-Shukr)
🎯 4. Definition and Status
⚠️ Difference on status
| School | Status |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Makruh (disliked) — not legislated |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Mubah (permitted) but not sunna |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Sunna (recommended) |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Sunna (recommended) |
💡 Maliki Position: The prostration of gratitude is not legislated. We thank Allah through dhikr, hamd, and good deeds, not through an isolated prostration.
⚖️ 5. Comparison of the Two Prostrations
| Aspect | Sujud Tilawa | Sujud Shukr |
|---|
| Cause | Recitation of verse | Blessing/preservation |
| Maliki status | Emphasized Sunna | Makruh |
| In prayer | ✅ Permitted | ❌ Invalidates prayer |
| Purity required | ✅ Yes | Variable |
🎯 Summary
Prostration of Recitation (Maliki)
| Point | Ruling |
|---|
| Status | Emphasized Sunna |
| Positions | 11 in the Quran |
| Purity | Obligatory |
| Takbir | Going down and rising |
| Taslim | No |
Prostration of Gratitude (Maliki)
| Point | Ruling |
|---|
| Status | Makruh (disliked) |
| Alternative | Say Al-Hamdulillah, make dhikr |
📚 Sources
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadiths no. 1067, 4418
- Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith no. 2774
- Al-Mudawwana by Imam Malik
- Mukhtasar Khalil
- Bidayat Al-Mujtahid by Ibn Rushd