Is It Permissible to Prostrate in Prayer If Emotionally Moved by the Quran?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Sometimes I feel like doing sajdah when reciting Quran, even though it’s not one of the ayas of sajdah tilawah. Is it allowed to do sajdah when an aya moves you?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

It is permissible to prostrate due to being moved by the Quran. The prostration must be done with all the prerequisite conditions of the prayer: facing the qibla, having wudu, proper clothing, etc… [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

However, one must realize that stopping one’s recitation for the sake of an act that is not sunna is leaving that which is more rewarding.

A better way to show your reverence for the Quran and the verses that moved you is to keep repeating those verses and making du’a to Allah Most High in a way that is relevant to their meanings. These are the practices of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

Repeating Verses

Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) one night, repeat a single verse until dawn: ((If You punish them, indeed they are Your servants)). I said, “O Messenger of Allah, you kept repeating this verse until dawn!?” He said, “I asked my Lord to be able to intercede for my nation; it will reach all who do not associate anything with Allah.” [Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra]

Supplicating

Hudhayfa bin al-Yaman (Allah be pleased with him) said, “I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace), and he would say in his bowing ‘Glory be to my Lord All-Mighty’ and in his prostration’ Glory be to my Lord Most High.’ And whenever he would pass a verse of mercy, he would pause at it and ask from Allah; and whenever he would pass a verse of punishment, he would seek refuge (in Allah) from it.” [Ahmad]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies in Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen. There he completed the memorization of the Qur’an and his study of the Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz, al-Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, al-Shaykh Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others. Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.