Dua For Sujood Tilawah

Reciting the Quran is a unique act of worship in Islam. It holds great significance and virtues. Recitation of the Quran, either in Prayer or otherwise in general, in itself is a highly virtuous act that brings us close to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. When reciting the Quran, the reciter expresses their humility and devotion to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Additionally, there are specific verses in the Quran, known as the “Verses of Prostration” or “Ayat Sujood” (آية السجود). It is a highly recommended Sunnah to prostrate when reciting or listening to the recitation of these verses. This prostration is referred to as “Prostration of Recitation” or more elaborately “Prostration of Recitation of the Quran”. In Islamic terminology, this prostration is known as “Sujood Tilawah” (سجود التلاوة).

Although not considered obligatory by the majority of scholars, Sujood Tilawah (prostration of recitation) is a much-emphasized Sunnah of the Prophet, as he used to prostrate when reciting any of the verses of prostration, as reported in Hadith 576 of Sahih Muslim.

Translation of relevant part - The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) recited (Surat) al Najm and performed prostration during its recital and all those who were along with him also prostrated themselves….

Similar narration is also available in other Hadiths, reflecting the importance and Sunnah of prostrating when reciting any verse of prostration, such as Hadith 81a of Sahih Muslim.

Translation - It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that when, the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Satan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: Alas, and in the narration of Abu Kuraib the words are: “Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell”.

Similarly, reciting a specific Dua during Sujood Tilawah is also an act of Sunnah, as reported in many Hadiths. Different Duas for Sajdah Tilawat are reported to have been recited by the Prophet while reciting the verse of prostration. One such Dua after reciting Sajdah Verse is reported in Hadith 1126 of Sunan An-Nasai.

Translation - When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prostrated he would say: "Allahumma laka sajadtu wa laka aslamtu wa bika amantu sajada wajhi lilladhi khalaqahu wa sawwarahu fa ahsana suratahu wa shaqqa sam'ahu wa basarahu, tabarak Allahu ahsanul-khaliqin ( O Allah, to You I have prostrated and to You I have submitted, and in You I have believed. My face has prostrated to the One Who created it and shaped it and shaped it well, and brought forth its hearing and sight. Blessed be Allah the best of Creators. "

Another Dua when making Sajdah after Quran recitation is reported in Hadith 579 of Jami at-Tirmidhi, as follows:

Translation of relevant part - ……..A man came to the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I had a dream at night while I was sleeping in which I was praying behind a tree, when I prostrated the tree prostrated along with me. Then I heard it saying: (Allahummaktuh li biha indaka ajran, wad a anni biha wizran, waj'alha li biha indaka dhukhran, wa taqabbalha minni kama taqabbaltaha min abdiki Dawud.)" (O Allah! Record for me, a reward with You for it, remove a sin for me by it, and store it away for me with You, and accept it from me as You accepted it from Your worshipper Dawud)

Apart from these two Duas, another shorter version of Dua for Sajdah recitation in the Quran is recommended by a vast majority of scholars, the one which is popularly recited while in Sujood during regular prayers “Subhana Rabbiy al-A’la” (Glory be to my Lord Most High), as mentioned in Hadith 1046 of Sunan An-Nasai.

List of Verses of Prostration in the Quran

There are 14 verses of prostration (ayat sujood) in the Quran, according to the majority of scholars, whereas some others are of the view that there are 15.

Here is a list of verses of prostration in the Quran:

Arabic Text - سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى

Transliteration - Subhana Rabbiy al-A’la

Translation - Glory be to my Lord Most High

Dua for Sujood Tilawah in Arabic

• سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى – This is the shortest and most popular dua for recitation while in sujood, including the Sujood Tilawah
• سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ، وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ، بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ، فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
• اللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبْ لِي بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَجْراً، وَضَعْ عَنِّي بِهَا وِزْراً، وَاجْعَلْهَا لِي عِنْدَكَ ذُخْراً، وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي كَمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا مِنْ عَبْدِكَ دَاوُدَ

Dua for Sujood Tilawah Transliteration

• Subhaana Rabbiyal-A'laa
• Sajada wajhiya lillathee khalaqahu, wa shaqqa sam'ahu wa basarahu bihawlihi wa quwwatihi. Fatabaarakallaahu 'ahsanul-khaaliqeen
• Allaahum-maktub lee bihaa 'indaka 'ajran, wa aha' 'annee bihaa wizran, waj'alhaa lee 'indaka thukhran, wa taqabbalhaa minnee kamaa taqabbaltahaa min'abdika Daawooda

Dua Sujood Tilawah in English

• Glory is to my Lord, the Most High
• I have prostrated my face to the One Who created it, and gave it hearing and sight by His might and His power. Glory is to Allah, the Best of creators.
• O Allah, write it as a reward for me, and release me from a burden for it, and make it a I treasure for me in Paradise. Accept it from me as You accepted it from your servant Dawud.

The Etiquettes Of Reciting Dua For Sujood Due To The Recitation Of The Quran

When you read an ayat-e-sajda, the best way is to perform the Sajda at-Tilawah as soon as possible rather than delaying it. You can perform the sajdah by itself or after the fard salah. Some schools of thought prefer that the Sajda at-Tilawah be offered with the same sharait as that of salah, i.e., you must be in wudu, face the Ka'aba, wear clean clothes, offer the sajdah in a clean place, and make niyyah for it as you do for salah. However, some fiqhs do not require this.  

To perform the sajdah, make niyyah and say Allah o Akbar. There is no requirement on whether you should be sitting or standing. If you are standing, say takbir and go directly into sajda. If you are sitting, recite takbir and go into sajda.

When you go in the sajda, say Subhaana Rabbiyal-A'laa three times. Afterward, raise your head from the sajda without saying takbir. You do not have to offer salam either. Now, recite the dua for offering sujood due to the recitation of the Quran. If you have to offer multiple Sajda at-Tilawah, you may stand up after rising from the sajdah, say takbir and go down in sajda again. You may repeat this until all sujood are offered.

The sequence of actions to be performed while reciting Dua for Sujood Tilawah can be summarized as follows:

• When reciting or hearing the recitation of any of the verses of Prostration, whether during prayer or out of prayer, go into prostration by saying “Allah o Akbar”.
• Raise your hands while saying “Allah o Akbar” and then bow down in prostration, while facing Qibla.
• It is better to be in Wudu while offering prostration of recitation.
• When praying, follow the Imam’s command to bow in prostration.
• When in prostration, recite any of the recommended Duas, the most common and shortest version being “Subhana Rabbiy al-A’la”. You may recite this Dua thrice, but if reciting the longer version, once is sufficient.
• Sujood Tilawah comprises only sujood, unlike the regular sujood during prayer, where you need to perform two sujood consecutively.
• After completing Dua, rise from prostration without raising your hands, and return to the same position as before performing Sujood Tilawah.
• There is no requirement to sit for “tashahhud” or recite “salam”, as is done during prayer.
• Maintain sincerity while performing Sujood Tilawah.
• Ensure to recite Dua calmly and silently, with complete focus on what you are saying.
• Complete the Sujood Tilawah with humility.

Benefits of Reciting Dua For Sujood Due To The Recitation Of The Quran

Performing sujood due to recitation of the Quran is an opportunity to garner Allah's favor and blessing by fulfilling His command.

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah and reported in Muslim and Ibn e Majah, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said that:

"When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and then falls down in prostration, the devil retreats, weeps, and says: Woe unto him, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, so Paradise is for him. However, I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused to, so the Fire is for me".

Performing Sajda at-Tilawah allows one to come closer to understanding and implementing the divine words and submit one's self to Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) command. This nourishes a believer's soul and strengthens their faith and connection with their Lord.

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