The Requirement of Ritual Purity in the Prostration of Recitation: A Comparative Jurisprudential Study

Abstract

The research is concerned with clarifying an important jurisprudential issue in which jurists differed, which is the requirement of purity in prostration of recitation. The research aims to know the objectives of the true Sharia in prostration of recitation, and clarify the opinions of Sharia jurists and their evidence in it; starting with definitional issues related to the research, and then bringing the doctrines of jurists, and their evidence from the Hadith and jurisprudential perspective, and clarifying the aspect of evidence from it, by referring to the approved early, late and contemporary jurisprudential books, and clarifying our opinion on the issue based on evidence. Among the prominent issues in Islamic jurisprudence is the prostration of recitation (Sajdah Tilawah), a prostration performed by Muslims upon reciting verses of prostration in the Holy Quran. It is usually performed during prayer or outside of it, and it expresses the Muslim's humility and acknowledgment of the greatness of God Almighty, and is a way of demonstrating servitude to Him. One of the points of contention is the requirement of ritual purity (tahara) for the prostration of recitation. This research presents the various opinions on this matter and clarifies the most sound view.

The research problem lies in answering the following questions:

1. What is the position of Islamic jurists regarding the requirement of ritual purity for the prostration of recitation, both during and outside of prayer?

2. What is the researchers' stance on the most sound view in this difference of opinion, and what are their arguments for their preferred view?

The research reached several results; the most prominent of which are: not requiring purity in prostration of recitation, and the permissibility of this prostration for the reader of the Holy Quran, its listener and its listener.