Hearing a Verse of Prostration in a Recording

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: If one listens to the Quran on tape and hears a verse of  prostration (sajda tilawa), is it still obligatory (wajib) to perform?

Answer: In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful

No, it is not required (nor correct) to prostrate when one hears a recording of the Quran, because the conditions that make a prostration of recital necessary are not fulfilled: there is no live recital. [cf: Shurunbulali, Imdad al-Fattah]

When the Quran is recited live, such as on a live radio or television broadcast, then a prostration of recital is necessary. [Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi of Damascus]

If one wants to prostrate, the proper way would be to recite the verse oneself, and then prostrate. [ibid.]

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani