made prostration obligatory upon us; we may do so if we wish” (1).
This occurred in the presence of the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—and none of them objected to him. His practice—may Allah be pleased with him—is among the precedents we have been commanded to follow. The stronger view, therefore, is that the prostration of recitation is not obligatory, although it is an emphatically recommended sunnah. Whenever you come across a verse at which prostration is prescribed, prostrate at any time, whether morning or evening, night or day. Pronounce the takbīr as you prostrate; when you rise, do not pronounce the takbīr or conclude with the salutation. This applies when prostrating outside prayer. If you prostrate during prayer, however, you must pronounce the takbīr both when prostrating and when rising, because when performed within prayer, it takes the same ruling as prostration in prayer.
Allah Almighty said:
“Rather, those who disbelieve deny,
and Allah knows best what they harbor.”
After mentioning—Glorified and Exalted is He—that they do not prostrate when the Quran is recited to them, He explained that their failure to prostrate is caused by their denial of what the messengers—peace and blessings be upon them—brought. Everyone whose faith is sincere must obey commands and refrain from prohibitions, for sincere faith impels a person to do so. You will not find anyone committing forbidden acts or neglecting obligations except because of weakness in his faith. Hence, according to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamā'ah, faith is affirmation that necessarily entails acceptance and submission. Whenever you see someone neglecting obligations, or some of them, or committing forbidden acts, know that his faith is weak. Had his faith been strong, he would neither have neglected his obligations nor violated prohibitions. Thus Allah Almighty said here:
“Rather, those who disbelieve deny.”
That is, their failure to prostrate was caused by their denial of what the messengers brought.
“And Allah knows best what they harbor.”
That is, Glorified and Exalted is He, He knows best what they harbor—what they gather within their breasts, and what—