What do I do when I reach a sajdah verse in the Quran?
Yes, there's a special prostration: when you reach a sajdah verse, you can make one prostration (sujud at-tilawah) and then carry on reading. Most scholars say it's a strongly recommended sunnah, while the Hanafi school considers it necessary (wajib). It's short and simple: say "Allahu akbar", prostrate once, then rise.
How to spot a sajdah verse
Most printed Qurans and apps mark these verses with a small symbol in the margin or at the end of the verse, often with the word "sajdah". There are about 15 of them, though the schools count slightly differently. One of them describes the prophets:
How to do it, step by step
- Finish the verse: read the sajdah verse to the end.
- Say "Allahu akbar": and go down into one prostration, facing the qibla if you can.
- Glorify Allah: say what you say in prayer, such as "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (Glorious is my Lord the Most High), which the Prophet ﷺ said in prostration (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 262). You can add any other dua.
- Rise: many scholars say "Allahu akbar" again as you get up. There's no tashahhud and no salam according to most scholars, then continue reading.
The Companions did this together with the Prophet ﷺ: when he recited a sajdah verse, he prostrated and they prostrated with him, so crowded that some couldn't find space for their foreheads (Sahih al-Bukhari 1076).
Is it obligatory?
The majority say no. Zaid ibn Thabit recited an-Najm, which has a sajdah, in front of the Prophet ﷺ, "yet he did not perform a prostration" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1073). Ibn Abbas also said the prostration of Surah Sad is not a compulsory one, though he saw the Prophet ﷺ do it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1069). The Hanafi view that it's necessary is also respected, so doing it whenever you can is the safest and best practice. See Do I have to follow a madhab after becoming Muslim?
Its reward is real: the Prophet ﷺ said that when a person recites a sajdah verse and prostrates, Satan withdraws weeping, because the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and did, while he refused (Sahih Muslim 81).
Common situations
- No wudu: most scholars require wudu, as for prayer. Some scholars allow it without wudu since it isn't a full prayer. If you can't prostrate, some scholars suggest glorifying Allah instead, such as saying "Subhanallah", and moving on.
- In the prayer: if you recite a sajdah verse in salah, prostrate once, stand back up and continue.
- Listening to a recording: many scholars say you don't have to prostrate for audio, though you may. See Can I listen to the Quran while driving or doing chores?
- On the bus or at work: it's fine to skip it. Most scholars say it's done right after the verse rather than made up much later.
- Sajdah verses are marked in most Qurans and apps.
- Say Allahu akbar, prostrate once, glorify Allah, rise.
- Most scholars say it's sunnah; Hanafis say it's wajib.
- Most require wudu; some scholars don't.
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