Sajdah al-Tilawah is the prostration of recitation — a sajdah performed when certain verses of the Quran are recited or heard. Muslims often search for the sajdah tilawat dua in Arabic with transliteration and English meaning so they know what to say in that prostration.
This guide covers a commonly taught dua for sajdah tilawah, when the prostration is made, and simple steps. Details of obligation versus recommendation can differ by school of jurisprudence; follow a trusted teacher for your personal practice.
Sajdah Tilawat dua — Arabic, transliteration & English
Sajada wajhiya lilladhī khalaqahu wa shaqqa samʿahu wa baṣarahu biḥawlihi wa quwwatih.
English: My face has prostrated to the One who created it, and brought forth its hearing and its sight, by His power and strength.
Variation note: Some authentic reports include additional phrases (for example mentioning that He is the most excellent of creators). Teachers may also instruct saying Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā as in ordinary sajdah. Keep one consistent practice from a reliable teacher rather than mixing every version you find online.
Word-by-word meaning
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ | Sajada wajhiya | My face has prostrated |
| لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ | lilladhī khalaqahu | to the One who created it |
| وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ | wa shaqqa samʿahu wa baṣarahu | and brought forth its hearing and sight |
| بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ | biḥawlihi wa quwwatih | by His power and strength |
When is sajdah tilawah performed?
Certain Quranic verses are known as verses of sajdah (ayat as-sajdah). When a reciter reaches one — in Salah or outside Salah — a prostration of tilawah may be performed according to the rules of one’s school. The exact list of verses and the ruling (required vs recommended) should be learned from a qualified teacher; do not rely on memory of a blog list alone for worship rulings.
How to perform it (general outline)
- When you reach a sajdah verse (or hear it, according to your school’s rules), prepare for prostration
- Say Allāhu Akbar and go into sajdah (details of hand-raising vary)
- Recite the sajdah tilawah dua (or the dhikr your teacher taught)
- Say Allāhu Akbar and rise
- If you were reciting outside Salah, you may continue; if inside Salah, follow your school’s method for continuing the prayer
Practical tips
- If you are unsure whether a verse requires sajdah, pause and check a marked mushaf later rather than guessing mid-recitation in public
- Teach children the dua slowly after they are comfortable with ordinary sajdah dhikr
- Live Quran lessons help you recognise sajdah markings in the mushaf — see Tajweed classes and online Quran classes
Related prayer texts
Closing
Sajdah tilawah is a bodily “ameen” to the Quran’s call to humility. Learn a clear dua, keep your practice consistent with a trusted teacher, and let the prostration be unhurried — one sincere sajdah is better than a rushed blur of words.
How mushafs mark sajdah verses
Most printed mushafs place a symbol near sajdah verses. Learn your mushaf’s legend once. When reading to children, pause and explain: “This mark means we may make a special prostration.” Turning marks into fear (“if you miss it you are sinful”) is usually unhelpful for kids — teach curiosity and ask a teacher for rulings.
Outside Salah vs inside Salah
Performing sajdah tilawah while you are already inside a prayer has additional method details (when to go down, how to resume). Those details are school-specific. This article will not invent a universal method. If you recite Quran in Tarawih or in a Hifz class, ask the leading teacher what they want students to do when a sajdah verse appears.
Memorise the dua in three days
- Day 1: listen and echo the first half only
- Day 2: add the second half
- Day 3: recite in an actual sajdah posture once
Posture memory matters. Flashcards alone often fail when the forehead reaches the ground.
Take one line today, recite it ten calm times, and revisit tomorrow. Steady worship literacy is built in ordinary weeks — not only in moments of urgency or high emotion.
If you share this with family, practise together once, then let each person rehearse privately so nobody feels tested in public.
If you share this with family, practise together once, then let each person rehearse privately so nobody feels tested in public.
Keep a simple notebook line: date, text practised, and one pronunciation target for the next session with a teacher.
If you hear a sajdah verse while listening
Sometimes you are listening to a reciter (in person or recording) when a sajdah verse occurs. Schools differ on whether a listener should perform sajdah tilawah in that situation. Do not invent a rule from a blog. Ask your local teacher what they recommend for common cases: mosque recitation, Quran class, and recordings at home.
Teaching children without fear
Children love discovering mushaf symbols. Keep the tone wondrous: “Allah invites us to lower ourselves here.” Practise the dua at home on a prayer mat once a week. If a child forgets mid-sajdah, quietly prompt one phrase — do not scold. Love of Quran grows in safety.
In Hifz class
Hifz students meet sajdah verses more often. Agree a class protocol with the tutor: who says the takbir, whether students all go to sajdah, and how quickly to resume. Clear protocol prevents awkward mid-lesson confusion.
Return to this page whenever you need the Arabic in one calm place — accuracy and humility matter more than finishing the memorisation in a single evening.
When you can, ask a qualified tutor to listen once — a two-minute correction early prevents years of mumbled habit.
Additional calm repetition on day 4 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Additional calm repetition on day 5 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Additional calm repetition on day 6 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Additional calm repetition on day 7 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Frequently asked questions
Is sajdah tilawah the same as sajdah in normal Salah?+
It is also a prostration, but it is tied to specific Quran verses of tilawah. The dua commonly taught for it can differ from the usual “Subhana rabbiyal-a’la” alone.
What if I do not know the special dua?+
Ask your teacher what to say. Many begin by using the familiar sajdah dhikr while they memorise the longer tilawah dua.
Do I need wudu for sajdah tilawah?+
Purity rules can depend on whether you are in Salah and on your school’s guidance. Learn this from a qualified teacher rather than from a short article alone.
How many sajdah verses are in the Quran?+
Classical works list a set of sajdah verses; counts and emphasis can vary slightly by school. Use a mushaf that marks them and confirm with a teacher.
Can I practise this with an online tutor?+
Yes. A tutor can help you recognise sajdah markings and recite the dua clearly during Quran reading lessons.