The Ruling on Sajda al-Tilawa When a Verse of Prostration Is Read in the Heart

Question

A person is reciting the Word of Allah, and other persons are sitting doing their wird silently in their hearts. But when that person comes to the verse of prostration, he recites it quietly, and the listeners go through this verse in their hearts, reciting nothing with the tongue. Now, is the prostration wajib upon each of them or not? Kindly grant an answer with references to the books.

Answer

By reading in the heart the prostration does not become wajib; rather it becomes wajib by reciting with the tongue (whether aloud or quietly) or by hearing. In the case asked about, it has become wajib upon the reciter, even though he recited quietly; but the listener did not hear him, nor recite with the tongue — he read it in the heart — so it has not become wajib upon him:…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.