One of the etiquettes of reciting Qur’aan is to perform sujood al-tilaawah (prostration for recitation) when one recites an aayah containing a “sajdah” (place where a prostration is required). In His Book, Allaah describes the Prophets and the righteous as follows (interpretation of the meaning): “… When the Verses of the Most Beneficent were recited unto them, they fell down prostrating and weeping.”

[Maryam 19:58]. Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The scholars agreed that we should prostrate here [when reciting this aayah] so as to follow their example.” (Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-‘Azeem, 5/238, Daar al-Sha’b edn.)

Sujood al-Tilaawah in prayer is very important because it increases khushoo’. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility [khushoo’].” [al-Israa’ 17:109].

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prostrated when he recited Soorat al-Najm [53] in his prayer. Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) reported in his Saheeh that Abu Raafi’ said: “I prayed ‘Ishaa’ with Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) and he recited Idhaa al- samaa’u inshaqqat [al-Inshiqaaq 84] and prostrated. I asked him about it, and he said, ‘I prostrated behind Abu’l-Qaasim [the Prophet] (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and I will continue to do so until I meet him again.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Adhaan, Baab al-Jahr bi’l-‘Ishaa’).

It is important to maintain the practice of sujood al-tilaawah, especially since it causes annoyance to the Shaytaan and suppresses him, thus weakening his hold on the worshipper. Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘When the son of Adam recites a sajdah, the Shaytaan goes away weeping, saying, “Woe to him! He was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; I was ordered to prostrate and I disobeyed, so Hell is my fate!”’” (Reported by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh, no. 133).