Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu aleykum am muslim youth who live in holland n wanna know how to perform (SUJUDU TILAWA) prosteration when reading the HOLLY QURAAN.

There is a time when i read quran and am not praying so tell me how to perform,and is must that i should have WUDHU,WHENEVER AM READING QURAAN?

Any guidance given is highly appreciated.

Your fellow muslim brother wabihadha ASSALAMU ALEYKUM WARAHMATULLAH WABARAKATUHU

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Sajdah tilawah prostration

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …am muslim youth who live in holland n wanna know how to perform (SUJUDU TILAWA) prosteration when reading the HOLLY QURAAN.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.41a

Topic: Ruling concerning prostration during the Quranic recitation

The majority of the scholars say that prostrations for the "'ayyat of sajdah" are Sunnah for the one who recites the 'ayyah and for the one who hears it. This is based on what al-Bukhari recorded from 'Umar who recited Surah An-Nahl upon the minbar one Friday, until he came to the "'ayyah of sajdah," and he descended from the pulpit and prostrated along with the people. On the next Friday, he recited the same and when he came to the 'ayyah of sajdah, he said: "O people, we have not been Commanded to prostrate (on a Verse of Sajdah). Whoever does so has acted correctly, while, there is no sin upon one who does not do so."

It is preferred and a Sunnah to make the prostration when one hears or recites a Verse of Prostration from the Glorious Quran, but if one forgets or delays the prostration for any reason whatsoever, there is no harm and no sin upon the person.

Your Question: …..there is a time when i read quran and am not praying so tell me how to perform

It is the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that whenever a believer recites (or hears) a Verse of Prostration from the Glorious Quran, one stop one’s recitation, turn one’s direction towards the ‘Qibla’ and make a prostration unto their Lord Most Majestic, Most Supreme.

Your Question: …..and is must that i should have WUDHU,WHENEVER AM READING QURAAN?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 56 Surah Waqiah verses 77-79

77 That this is indeed a Qur'an, most honorable

78 In a Book well-guarded

79 Which none shall touch but those who are purified.

Although the above aayah is meant to state how the Glorious Quran is honored by the noble Angels in the heavens; the scholars have opined that just as the Quran is honored in the heavens by the Angels, so should it be honored by the believers on the earth…. And thus, one, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, should touch the Glorious Quran only when one is pure and clean, and preferably when in the state of wudu.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 6:

6 O ye who believe! When ye prepare for prayer wash your faces and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles.

The only acts in Islam whereby the wudu is absolutely obligatory and a pre-condition is when one is about to offer a prayer or while circumambulating the Holy Kaaba; if these two rites are performed without the wudu, it would nullify the rites.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 229 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Abdullah ibn Salamah said: ‘I, accompanied by other two persons, one from us and the other from Banu Asad, called upon Ali. He sent them to a certain territory (on some mission) saying: ‘You are going to a sturdy and vigorous people; hence display your power for religion.’ He then stood and entered the toilet. He then came out and called for water and took a handful of it. Then he wiped (his hands) with it and began to recite the Qur'an. They were surprised at this (action). Thereupon he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out from the privy and taught us the Quran and took meat with us. Nothing prevented him from (reciting) the Quran except sexual defilement.’

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3751 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out from the privy and water was presented to him. They (the people) asked: ‘Should we bring you water for ablution?’ He (saws) replied: ‘I have been commanded to perform ablution (only) when I get up for prayer.’

Sahih Muslim Hadith 725 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out of the privy, and he was presented with some food, and the people reminded him about ablution, but he (saws) said: ‘Am I to say prayer that I should perform ablution?’

In light of the above guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, although it would be preferred to touch or recite the Glorious Quran while in the state of wudu, there is no obligation and no harm if one were to recite it even when not in the state of wudu or ablution. But one should strive to abstain from touching or reciting the Quran when one is in the state of ‘janaba’ or major ceremonial impurity.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan