Dua for the Prostration of Recitation
3 Things to Know About Sujood al-Tilawah
When the believer recites or hears one of the verses of prostration in the Quran, they prostrate to Allah in humility, and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught a beautiful supplication to say in that prostration. This prostration of recitation, known as sujood al-tilawah, is an act of submission in which the believer falls down before Allah upon reaching a verse that commands prostration. The dua for the prostration of recitation is the supplication said in this sujood, declaring that the face has prostrated to the One who created it.
سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ
Sajada wajhi lilladhi khalaqahu wa shaqqa sam‘ahu wa basarahu bi hawlihi wa quwwatih.
“My face has prostrated to the One who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power.”
The verses of prostration are scattered through the Quran, and at each one the believer follows the example of the prophets and angels who fall down in prostration to Allah. This guide explains the dua for the prostration of recitation and three things to know about sujood al-tilawah, so that the believer may prostrate to Allah upon reciting or hearing a verse of prostration, say the beautiful supplication taught by the Prophet (pbuh), and humble themselves before the One who created their face and gave it hearing and sight by His own might and power.
The Supplication of the Prostration
When the Prophet (pbuh) prostrated upon reciting a verse of prostration, he would say the beautiful supplication quoted above, declaring that his face had prostrated to the One who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power. This supplication is a confession of complete humility, acknowledging that the very faculties of the face, its sight and hearing, are a creation and gift of Allah. By saying it in the prostration of recitation, the believer submits their whole being to their Creator.
The prostration of recitation is a moment of pure submission, in which the believer, upon reaching a verse that commands prostration, falls down before Allah as the prophets and angels did. The supplication gives words to this submission, attributing all of the believer faculties to the power of Allah. The dua for the prostration of recitation reflects this humility, as the believer prostrates their face, their sight and their hearing before the One who created them and gave them every faculty.
Three Things to Know About Sujood al-Tilawah
The prostration of recitation is an act of submission. These three things help the believer perform it.
- Prostrate to Allah upon reciting or hearing a verse of prostration in the Quran.
- Say the supplication, declaring that your face has prostrated to its Creator.
- Humble yourself before the One who gave your face its hearing and sight by His power.
يَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا
Yakhirruna lil-adhqani sujjada
They fall down in prostration to Allah
Submitting to the Creator of the Face
The dua for the prostration of recitation is a confession of humility, declaring that the face has prostrated to its Creator. By prostrating upon reaching a verse of prostration, saying the supplication, and humbling yourself before the One who gave you every faculty, the believer performs sujood al-tilawah in the best way. The prostration of recitation is a moment of pure submission, and the believer who falls down before Allah at His verses, attributing their sight and hearing to His power, follows the example of the prophets and angels who prostrate to Him.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua before reading the Quran and the dua after reading the Quran. Together they help the believer recite the Quran with humility and reverence before Allah.
When the Prophet (pbuh) reached a verse of prostration, he declared that his face had prostrated to its Creator. Learn the worship duas with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on X for a reminder of sujood al-tilawah, and on Pinterest where readers share how they recite the Quran with reverence.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua for the prostration of recitation is the supplication the Prophet (pbuh) said: Sajada wajhi lilladhi khalaqahu wa shaqqa samahu wa basarahu bi hawlihi wa quwwatih, my face has prostrated to the One who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power.
Sujood al-tilawah is the prostration of recitation, made when the believer recites or hears one of the verses of prostration in the Quran. It is an act of submission in which the believer falls down before Allah at His command.
The believer makes it upon reciting or hearing a verse of prostration in the Quran, whether in prayer or outside it. The verses of prostration are marked in copies of the Quran, and the believer prostrates upon reaching them.
The believer faces the qiblah, makes the magnification of Allah, prostrates once saying the supplication, and then rises. It is a single prostration of submission to Allah upon reaching a verse that commands prostration.
The scholars differ, with many holding it to be a strongly recommended act rather than obligatory. The believer follows reliable guidance and prostrates upon reaching the verses of prostration, following the example of the Prophet (pbuh).
The verses of prostration describe the prophets, angels and creation falling down in prostration to Allah, and the believer joins them in this submission. Prostrating at these verses is an act of humility and obedience to the command of Allah.