and this is obligatory when the Quran is recited to him, both within and outside prayer, as explained above. And Allah knows best.

As for the unqualified command to prostrate, it undoubtedly encompasses the five daily prayers, which are obligatory by consensus. It also encompasses the prostration of recitation, for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prescribed prostration at these passages. What is recited must therefore be the reason for the prostration; otherwise, the prostration would be unrelated to it. What these passages contain is precisely a command, indicating that this prostration is among the forms of prostration commanded. Otherwise, how could the very prostration associated with the command fall outside its scope? This is like the angels’ prostration to Adam when they were commanded to prostrate. Thus, the authentic hadith states:

“When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration, Satan withdraws, weeping and saying: ‘Woe to him! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, so Paradise is his. I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused, so the Fire is mine.’”

Narrated by Muslim. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned this to encourage this prostration. It therefore indicates that this prostration is commanded, just as prostration to Adam was: both involve a command, and prostration has been prescribed in response to it. Whoever prostrates follows the example of the angels, while whoever refuses follows the example of Iblīs. Indeed, this is prostration to Allah, so it is greater than prostration to Adam.

This hadith alone suffices to establish that it is obligatory, as do the verses containing the qualified command and those containing the unqualified command.