‘Uqba b. ‘Amir told that he said, “Messenger of God, sura al-Hajj has been given superior excellence through having two prostrations in it.” He replied, “Yes, and he who does not make the two prostrations should not recite the two verses.”
Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and said this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong. Al-Masabih has “should not recite it”, as occurs in Sharh as-sunna.
God’s Messenger taught me fifteen prostrations, while reciting the Qur’an, including three in al-Mufassal, 1 and two in sura al-Hajj2.
1. A title given to the suras from 49 to the end, but several other suras are also mentioned: 37, 45, 47, 48, 50, 61, 67, 87, and 93. The name is most appropriately explained ay meaning that this is the section of the Qur’an which contains many shorter suras.
2. Al-Qur’an; 22
Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet made a prostration in the noon prayer, then stood up and bowed; and they thought he recite Tanzil, i.e. sura as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32).
A prostration when reciting Sad (Al-Qur’an; 38) is not one of those which are divinely commanded, but I have seen the Prophet prostrate himself when it was recited. In a version Mujahid said that he asked Ibn ‘Abbas whether he should prostrate himself when reciting Sad, whereupon he recited, “And among his progeny David and Solomon . . . so copy the guidance they received,” (Al-Qur’an; 6:84-90) and said, “Your prophet was one of those who were commanded to copy them.”
