Sajdah in the Quran: The 15 Verses of Prostration
What a sajdah tilawah (prostration of recitation) is, the 15 places in the Quran where it is marked, how it is performed, and where schools of Islamic law differ.
Last updated: 2026-10-03
In some places in the Quran, Muslims who recite or hear the verse bow down in prostration. This is called sajdat at-tilawah, the prostration of recitation. Printed copies mark these places, usually with a small symbol in the margin and a line over the relevant word.
The 15 places of prostration
Standard copies such as the Madinah mushaf mark 15 places. Each link opens the ayah on this site:
- Al-A'raf — 7:206
- Ar-Ra'd — 13:15
- An-Nahl — 16:50
- Al-Isra — 17:109
- Maryam — 19:58
- Al-Hajj — 22:18
- Al-Hajj — 22:77
- Al-Furqan — 25:60
- An-Naml — 27:26
- As-Sajdah — 32:15
- Sad — 38:24
- Fussilat — 41:38
- An-Najm — 53:62
- Al-Inshiqaq — 84:21
- Al-'Alaq — 96:19
Surah As-Sajdah (32) takes its name, “The Prostration”, from its sajdah verse.
Where schools of law differ
The four Sunni schools agree on most of these places but not all. The second prostration in Al-Hajj (22:77) is counted by the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools but not by the Hanafi school, while the Hanafi school counts the place in Sad (38:24), which the Shafi’i school regards as a prostration of thanks. Maliki scholars traditionally emphasise eleven places. This is why the number of sajdah marks can differ slightly between printed copies.
Scholars also differ on whether the prostration is obligatory (the Hanafi view, wajib) or a strongly recommended practice (the view of the other schools). If you follow a particular school, ask a scholar of that school.
How it is performed (in outline)
- On reaching the verse, the reciter says “Allahu akbar” and goes down into one prostration.
- In prostration, a supplication of glorification is said; well-known wordings are reported in the hadith collections.
- The reciter then rises, saying “Allahu akbar” according to many scholars, and continues reading.
- Inside the prayer, the imam and those praying behind him prostrate together. Outside the prayer, many scholars recommend being in a state of purity and facing the qibla, though there is discussion on whether this is required.
Sajdah verses in videos
If you make a video of a passage containing a sajdah verse, it is considerate to mention this in the caption, so listeners know. Quran MP4 shows the verified text exactly as in the dataset; it doesn’t add or remove marks.
Frequently asked questions
- How many sajdahs are in the Quran?
- Standard printed copies such as the Madinah mushaf mark 15 places of prostration. Schools of Islamic law differ on one or two of them.
- What is sajdah tilawah?
- A single prostration made when reciting or hearing one of the verses of prostration in the Quran.
- Is sajdah tilawah obligatory?
- The Hanafi school considers it obligatory (wajib); the other Sunni schools consider it a strongly recommended practice.
This article explains common understanding and history for general readers; it is not a religious ruling. For questions of practice, consult a qualified scholar. See the disclaimer.
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