What is the ruling on sajdah tilawa for a traveler? حكم سجود التلاوة للمسافر

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.

As to what follows:

With regards to answering your question we say, success is by Allah Almighty.

There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding a traveller who recites verses with sajdah tilawa into whether he should prostrate using gestures or not. The majority of scholars are of the opinion that he should prostrate by gesturing with his head regardless of direction. Bukhari (1000) and Muslim (700) narrates on the authority of Zuhri from Saalim from Ibn Umar that The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) used to make tasbih on while riding an animal on a journey facing towards any direction as well as performing witr except that he did not make obligatory prayers.

Some Hanafites and other Shafites are of the opinion that gesturing is not sufficient for a traveller because of missing a greater element of sajdah tilawa which is prostrating on the forehead.

What is apparent is that the opinion held by the majority of scholars seems to be more correct because relaxation was established on ruku’ and sajdah on nafil prayers during travelling and sajdah tilawa takes the same ruling.

As for a rider who is not on a journey, it is permissible for him to gesture on nafil prayer though the scholars differed into two opinions regarding sajda tilawa:

The majority of scholars are of the view that it is not permissible when not travelling because there is no proof supporting that. Al-Dhahiriyya and some jurists from Shafi and other schools of thought are of the view that it is permissible when one is not travelling.

However, the view held by the majority of scholars seems to be more correct.

And Allah knows best.

As for nafil prayer during travelling, it is permissible to gesture as indicated by the sunnah. The person makes ruku’ and sajdah by gestures.

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

27 / 03 / 1425 AH