❖ Ruling of Sajdah al-Tilāwah: Upon the Reciter and Listener
Source: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
Who is required to perform Sajdah al-Tilāwah (Prostration of Recitation)?
❖ Answer:
Sajdah al-Tilāwah is prescribed (mashrūʿ) and recommended (mustaḥabb) for both:
① The one who recites an Āyah of Sajdah,
② The one who listens attentively to it.
This applies regardless of whether the verse is recited during prayer or outside of prayer.
In all situations, performing Sajdah al-Tilāwah is recommended for both the reciter and the listener.
❖ Scholarly Consensus:
❀ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله (d. 774 AH) stated:
“يشرع لتاليها ومستمعها السجود بالإجماع.”
“Sajdah is legislated for the one who recites the verse and for the one who listens attentively — and this is by consensus.”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/539)
✔ Summary:
✅ Sajdah al-Tilāwah is not obligatory but is highly recommended.
✅ Applies to both reciter and attentive listener.
✅ Applies in and outside of prayer.
✅ Ijmāʿ (consensus) of scholars supports this practice.
