290. Sajdah Ash- Shukr

By Asma Bint Shameem

Sajdah ash-Shukr is the prostration of thankfulness that a person does out of gratefulness to Allaah. 

It is just ONE sajdah and is done ANY time, outside of Salah when we receive some NEW or SUDDEN news of a blessing, or relief from some calamity. 

It was the practice of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

Abu Bakrah radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“When the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam heard any news that made him glad, he would fall down prostrating to Allaah, may He be exalted.” (Ibn Maajah and others - hasan by al-Albaani)

And Abu Bakrah also said:

“He saw the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, when news reached him that his troops had prevailed over their enemy, he was lying with his head in ‘Aa’ishah’s lap, then he got up and fell in prostration.” (Ahmad, saheeh)

Sajdah ash-Shukr was also a practice among the Sahaabah. 

Abu Bakr radhi Allaahu anhu fell into sajdah of shukr when he heard that Musaylimah (the false prophet) had been killed. 

And Ka’b ibn Maalik radhi Allaahu anhu fell into sajdah out of gratefulness as soon as he received the good news that Allaah had accepted his Taubah after he had stayed back from the battle with no excuse. 

How to do it?

When you hear any sudden good news, just fall into sajdah. Say the Tasbeeh of Sajdah (Subaaana Rabbi al-Aa’laa) then thank Allaah and praise Him for the blessing He bestowed upon you. 

Shaikh Saleh al-Munajjid said:

“There is no specific duaa narrated in the ahaadeeth for sujood al-shukr, hence the scholars said that what is to be said in sujood al-shukr is the same tasbeeh and du’aa’ as are said when prostrating in prayer.”

Can I do sajdah ash-Shukr EVERY DAY for ALL the blessings Allaah has given me?

Although a person should be thankful to Allaah ALL the time and can never even begin to be grateful to Him for His innumerable blessings, it is NOT CORRECT to do Sajdah ash-Shukr as a ROUTINE for ongoing, everyday blessings that Allaah has given us. 

Otherwise it would make more sense to be in sajdah literally every second of the day, for each and every blessing that Allaah has bestowed upon me and you! 

And yes, it’s proven that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and the Sahaabah did sajdah ash-Shukr but they only did it SPONTANEOUSLY when they would receive some good news or some evil was diverted. 

They did not do it for recurring, ongoing blessings. 

And so we should also follow their example and do what they did and not do what they didn’t do. 

Thus, it’s NOT RIGHT to do this sajdah as a ROUTINE every day as a GENERAL thankfulness. 

Here’s what Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“When a new blessing comes – this excludes ongoing blessings, because in the case of an ongoing blessing, if we were to tell someone that it is mustahabb to prostrate in gratitude for it, he would be constantly prostrating, because Allah says: “and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them” [Ibraaheem 14:34]. Ongoing blessings are always with a person, such as the soundness of his hearing and vision, his ability to speak clearly, and physical health – all of these are blessings; breathing is another blessing, and so on. But there is no report in the Sunnah to suggest that one should prostrate in gratitude for such blessings.”

(ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ (4/105)

Does it require wudhu, facing the qiblah, or hijaab for a woman?

Since Sajdah ash-Shukr is NOT SALAH, none of these are obligatory, although some of the ulama said they are recommended. 

So even if you don’t have wudhu, or hijaab on (for a woman) and you hear some good news all of a sudden, you can fall into sajdah and your sajdah would be valid. 

Shaykh al-Albaani said:

“It comprises of one prostration, and none of the preconditions needed for prayer are stipulated for it. So it is like sujood at-tilaawah, they both have the same ruling. Neither of them have a precondition such as being in a state of purification, facing the qiblah, making the takbeer, making the tasleem, and so on. Rather, if he is surprised by some blessing, he prostrates immediately the way he is and praises Allaah with whatever (words) he can for that blessing that He gave him, out of thanks to Him.” (silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor, 97/6)

Can a woman on her menses do it?

Since Sajdah ash-Shukr does not require purification or wudhu, even a woman on her period can fall into sajdah out of gratefulness ‘IF’ she hears a sudden good news. 

The Standing Committee said:

“The correct view is that it is not a condition for sajdat al-shukr and sajdat al-tilaawah on the part of one who is reciting or listening, that the person should be in a state of tahaarah (ritual purity), because they do not come under the rulings of salaah.”

(Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah Li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa’, 7/262)

What if I hear some good news and it’s the “Prohibited” times of prayer?

Since Sajdah ash-Shukr is not salah, it’s allowed to fall into this Sajdah even during the prohibited times of prayer, ‘IF’ you hear some sudden good news of a blessing and you want to thank Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

Remember: The prohibition is for offering “Salah”, and NOT for sajdah. 

But I thought you can’t do sajdah outside of Salah?

Yes it’s true and proven that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam never made a separate sajdah outside  of Salah to MAKE DUAA. 

But he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam DID make a sajdah outside of salah to THANK Allaah. 

Making duaa in sajdah outside of salah is DIFFERENT from thanking Allaah. 

In duaa you're ASKING Allaah but in sajdah ash-Shukr you’re not asking. 

You’re THANKING Allaah for what He already gave you. 

What about two rak’ah prayer of Shukr (Shukraanay ki namaz)?

There is NO such thing as two rak’ah of shukr. 

NOTHING of this sort has been proven from the practice of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh said:

“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam would fall down in prostration to Allaah whenever he heard any good news. This indicates that Sujud-ul-Shukr is Mustahabb (desirable) when a person receives a blessing or is saved from evil. Sujud-ul-Shukr consists of one prostration only.

There is no basis in Sharee’ah for repeating Sujud-ul-Shukr every day. It is prescribed to offer Sujud-ul-Shukr when a blessing is granted or an evil is warded off. 

*It is also BASELESS in Sharee’ah* to have the intention to offer two Rak’ah in thankfulness to Allaah every day. Likewise, there is no basis in Sharee’ah for continuously offering two Rak’ah in thankfulness to Allaah, and the same applies to offering Sujud-ul-Shukr continuously.” (aliftaa.net)

And Allaah knows best.