—the term sujūd (prostration) in that verse conveys nothing beyond absolute humility and submission, and that the familiar, physical act of prostration is not implied at all? If that were correct, the specific prostration would not have been legislated upon its recitation—least of all while one is in prayer. This point, then, supplies the answer given by those who, responding to people who cite the verse as proof for the obligation of sujūd al-tilāwah (the prostration of Qur’anic recitation), argue that what is intended is mere humility.

If it is said, “Once sujūd is interpreted as ṣalāh (prayer), as most scholars affirm, the prostration of recitation would no longer be obligatory,”