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 Alaikum,

I have seen all the imams in the masjid doing the required sajdah that comes in the middle of reciting quran while in salah, they would immediately prostrate after the verse and then get back up and continue reciting. What if the surah ends and the last ayah is the one where I should do the sajdah, then should I get up anyway and recite another surah? Also what am I supposed to recite in this sajdah, is it the same when praying and not praying? Jazakallah khair. 

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Answer:

Sajdah tilawah recitation in prayer

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Naf'i relates that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Prophet (saws) would recite the Qur'an to us and when he came to a Verse of Sajdah, he (saws) would make the takbir and go into sajdah and we would make the sajdah.”

Related by Abu Dawud, al-Baihaqi, and al-Hakim.

It is the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that whenever one recites or hears, regardless of whether one is in the state of prayer or otherwise, an Aayah of Sajdah from the Glorious Quran, one should stop reciting and make a prostration.

Your Question: What if the surah ends and the last ayah is the one where I should do the sajdah, then should I get up anyway and recite another surah

Although it is recommended not to end one’s rakah at the verses of prostration, if one does recites a Surah in prayer which ends with an Aayah of Sajdah from the Quran, the scholars of Islam have given two permissible opinions:

1. Make prostration when one reaches the Aayah of Sajdah, get up and recite another Surah or a few more verses.
2. Or, one may end the rakah at the recitation of the Aayah of Sajdah, and perform the ruku and sajdah as normal, and this prostration done in the course of prayer would be sufficient to fulfill the Sunnah.

Your Question: Also what am I supposed to recite in this sajdah, is it the same when praying and not praying?

Sahih Muslim Hadith 970 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an in the state of bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajdah). So far as Ruku' is concerned, extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord, and while prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.’

When one performs the sajdah in prayer or a sajdah after reciting or hearing a verse of prostration, it is Sunnah to Glorify Allah Subhanah by saying ‘Subhanah Rabbi al-A’ala’ (Glory be to Allah, The Most High) an odd number of times, and one is recommended to make as many supplications as one wishes in the state of prostration.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "The servant is nearest to his Lord when he is prostrating to Him, so make (many) supplications in this state." Related by Muslim.

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