Tafsir of Al-`Alaq 96:19

Verse [ 19] كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِ‌ب ۩ (No! never obey him, and bow down in sajdah { Prostration}, and come closer.) The Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) is advised to ignore and disobey Abu Jahl when he stops him from praying. He is asked to be steadfast in prayer and prostration.

Acceptability of Supplication in the Posture of Prostration

It is recorded in Abu Dawud on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah (رض) that the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: اقرب ما یکون العبد من ربّہٖ وھو ساجد فاکثروا الدعاء . (The closest that a servant can be to his Lord is when he is in prostration. Therefore, make abundant supplications [ while prostrating ]) Another authentic Tradition states: فانّہ قمن ان یستجاب لکم (...because it is fitting and proper that supplications be accepted in the state of prostration.)

Ruling

It is valid to supplicate in the supererogatory (nafi) salah while prostrating. In certain narrations, special words of the supplications are recorded from the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) . It is better to recite those transmitted prayers of the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) . There is no proof or evidence of such supplications in the prostration of obligatory salah, because the obligatory salah needs to be short.

Ruling

A prostration is compulsory for one who recites this verse and listens to it. A narration of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah (رض) states that the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) used to prostrate when he recited this verse. Allah knows best!

Al-hamdulillah

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Surah Al-` Alaq

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