In an authentic report transmitted from Ibn Masʿūd it is stated that they all prostrated except for one man from among the idolaters. He scooped up a handful of pebbles and said, “This is enough for me.” Ibn Masʿūd went on: “I later saw him killed as an unbeliever.” This demonstrates that they had in fact been commanded to perform that prostration and that the one who neglected it was censured. It was not the prostration that forms part of the ritual prayer; rather, it was an act of submission to Allah—performed although some of them were disbelievers and some were not in a state of ablution. The prostration of humility is due whenever His speech is recited.

He likewise praised those who prostrate when they hear it, saying:

“When the revelations of the All-Merciful are recited to them, they fall down in prostration, weeping.” (19:58)

And He said:

“Say: ‘Believe in it or do not believe.’ Surely those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down upon their chins in prostration and say, ‘Glory be to our Lord; the promise of our Lord has indeed come to pass.’ And they fall upon their chins weeping, and it increases them in humility.” (17:107–109)

Although some have said that this refers to the prostration performed inside the prayer—since when they hear the Quran they bow and prostrate—there is no doubt that it applies even more strongly to the prostration upon hearing the Quran outside the prayer: in the former case the prostration is merely one element of the prayer, whereas here an unqualified prostration upon the chins is mentioned, so