Prostration Verses

Sura Sad: Prostration, Hanafis and Aqida

The Problem

According to the Shafi‘i school, the prostration of verse 24 of Surah Sad (chapter 38 of the Qur’an) is not a prostration of Qur’an-recital (sajdatu’l-tilawa) but rather a prostration of thankfulness (sajdatu’l-shukr).  Performing a prostration of thankfulness during the prayer invalidates one’s prayer, so if one recites this verse while praying, one may not prostrate.

In the Hanafi school, however, the prostration of this verse is a prostration of Qur’an-recital and it is necessary (wajib) to prostrate during the prayer if one recites it during the prayer.  This can result in a seemingly problematic situation if a Shafi‘i prays behind a Hanafi who recites this verse.

The Solution

Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (Allah have mercy on him) mentions in his Tuhfa that if one is praying behind a Hanafi Imam who prostrates for this verse, one has one of two options:

  • (1) one can either stop following him and complete one’s prayer on one’s own, or
  • (2) one can wait for him to stand back up from the prostration and then continue praying behind him, without this affecting the validity of one’s prayer.  Imam Muhammad al-Ramli (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his Nihaya that to wait for him to stand back up is the superior of the two options

The fifteen 'ayyat are: ( One of these fifteen verses is in Sura al-Saad. According to the Shafi`is, this verse does not call for a prostration of Quran recital )

  • -1- "Lo! Those who are with thy Lord are not too proud to do Him service, but they praise Him and prostrate to Him" (al-A'raf 206).
  • -2- "And unto Allah falls prostrate whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening hours" (ar-Ra'd 15).
  • -3- "And unto Allah does whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth of living creatures make prostration, and the angels (also) and they are not proud" (an-Nahl 49).

  • -4- "Say: Believe therein or believe not, lo! Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read unto them, they fall down prostrate on their faces, adoring" (al-lsra' 107).

  • -5- "When the revelations of the Beneficent were recited unto them, they prostrated, adoring and weeping" (Maryam 58).

  • -6- "Haven't you seen that unto Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while there are many unto whom the doom is justly due. He whom Allah scorns, there is none to give him honor. Lo! Allah does what he wills" (al-Hajj 18)

  • -7- "O you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good, that you may prosper" (al-Hajj 77).

  • -8- "And when it is said unto them: 'Prostrate unto the Beneficent,' they say: 'And what is the Beneficent'? Are we to prostrate to whatever you bid us?' And it increases aversion in them" (al-Furqan 60).

  • -9- "So they prostrate not to Allah! [He] who brings forth the hidden in the heavens and the earth. And He knows what you hide and what you proclaim" (an-Naml 25).

  • -10- "Only those who believe in Our revelations who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord and who are not scornful" (as-Sajdah 15).

  • -11- "And David guessed that we had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented" (Sad 24). - NOT with Shafiis

  • -12- "And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun or the moon, but prostrate unto Allah who created them, if it is Him you worship" (Ha-Mim 37).

  • -13- "Rather prostrate before Allah and serve Him" (an-Najm 62).

  • -14- "And, when the Qur'an is recited unto them, they do not prostrate (unto Allah)" (al-Inshiqaq 21).

  • -15- "But prostrate yourself and draw near (unto Allah)" (al-'Alaq 19)

 

 



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