—namely, at His words: “and it increases them in humility” (Q 17:109).
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In Sūrat Maryam, at His words: “they fall down in prostration, weeping” (Q 19:58);
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The first occurrence in al-Ḥajj, at His words: “Indeed, Allah does whatever He wills” (Q 22:18);
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In al-Furqān, at His words: “and it only increases them in aversion” (Q 25:60);
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In al-Naml, at His words: “Lord of the Mighty Throne” (Q 27:26);
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In Alif-Lām-Mīm Tanzīl (al-Sajdah), at His words: “and they are not arrogant” (Q 32:15);
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In Ṣād, at His words: “he fell down bowing and repented” (Q 38:24);
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In Ḥā-Mīm Tanzīl (Fuṣṣilat), at His words: “if it is Him that you worship” (Q 41:37); some, however, place it at His words: “and they do not grow weary” (Q 41:38).
Al-Shāfiʿī held that there are fourteen prostrations, three of them in the Mufaṣṣal section: in al-Inshiqāq, in al-Najm, and in “Recite, in the name of your Lord” (al-ʿAlaq). He did not count a prostration in Ṣād, regarding that one as a prostration of gratitude (sujūd al-shukr).
Aḥmad maintained that they number fifteen, affirming the second prostration in al-Ḥajj and the one in Ṣād.
Abū Ḥanīfah said that they are twelve. Al-Ṭaḥāwī explained that these are every prostration-verse articulated in the form of a declarative statement.
The root of their disagreement lies in the differing methodological principles they employed to establish the tally. Some relied on the lived practice of the people of Madinah; others on analogical reasoning; still others on transmitted reports.
Those who relied on practice are Mālik and his companions.
Those who relied on analogy are Abū Ḥanīfah and his companions. They argued: “The prostration-verses upon which there is consensus are all couched in declarative form—namely, the verses in al-Aʿrāf, al-Naḥl, al-Raʿd, al-Isrāʾ, Maryam, the first in al-Ḥajj, al-Furqān, al-Naml, and Alif-Lām-Mīm Tanzīl. It follows that every other verse expressed as a declarative statement—specifically those in Ṣād and al-Inshiqāq—should be included as well, while three verses framed as imperatives are to be excluded: the ones in al-Najm, the second in al-Ḥajj, and in ‘Recite, in the name of your Lord who created’ (al-ʿAlaq).”
As for those who relied on transmitted reports, they confined themselves to what is soundly established from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—of his prostrating in al-Inshiqāq, in “Recite, in the name of your Lord,” and in “By the star” (al-Najm); this was recorded by Muslim. Al-Athram relates that Aḥmad was asked, “How many prostrations are there in al-Ḥajj?” He replied, “Two.”