Question:Should “Allāhu Akbar” (takbīr) be said when going into or rising from Sajdah Tilāwah during prayer? Please clarify the correct practice.
Answer by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir (ḥafiẓahullāh)◉ During Individual (Non-Congregational) Prayer
✔ If a person is performing individual prayer, then:
➤ It is permissible to say Allāhu Akbar when:
— Going into Sajdah Tilāwah.
— Rising from Sajdah Tilāwah.
✔ This is based on the principle of saying takbīr when transitioning between physical movements during ṣalāh.
✔ This view is held by many scholars, and there is flexibility in this matter.
◉ During Congregational (Jamāʿah) Prayer
✔ If the Imām is leading the prayer and performs Sajdah Tilāwah, then the preferred and correct (أقرب إلى الصواب) view is:
➤ Say Takbīr:
① When going into sajdah.
② When rising from sajdah.
✔ The reason is to clearly signal the movement to the followers (muqtadīs), ensuring they are aware of the transitions in prayer.
◉ Avoiding Unnecessary Strictness
✔ This is not a matter requiring harshness or rigidity.
✔ Saying takbīr in both directions helps maintain clarity and order in congregational settings.
◉ View of the Four Imams (al-A’immah al-Arbaʿah)
✔ According to the knowledge of the Shaykh, all four Imams support the view that:
➤ Takbīr should be said both when going into and rising from Sajdah Tilāwah during ṣalāh.
◉ Sajdah Tilāwah Outside of Ṣalāh
✔ According to Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله:
➤ Say Allāhu Akbar only when going into sajdah.
➤ Do not say takbīr when rising from sajdah if outside prayer.
Summary
❖ In Prayer (Ṣalāh):
— Say takbīr both when going into and rising from Sajdah Tilāwah — especially in congregational prayer.
❖ Outside Prayer:
— Say takbīr only when going into sajdah. No need for takbīr when rising.
➤ Wallāhu Aʿlam (Allah knows best)
