7/3. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1406 — Surah an-Najm Prostration
A View That There Is Prostration In Mufassal Surahs
Surah an-Najm Prostration Hadith and the Response of the People
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1406
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1406
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ سُورَةَ النَّجْمِ فَسَجَدَ فِيهَا وَمَا بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ إِلاَّ سَجَدَ فَأَخَذَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ كَفًّا مِنْ حَصًى أَوْ تُرَابٍ فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى وَجْهِهِ وَقَالَ يَكْفِينِي هَذَا . قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ قُتِلَ كَافِرًا .
‘Abd Allah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Surah al-Najm and prostrated himself. No one remained there who did not prostrate (along with him). A man from the people took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his face saying: This is enough for me. 'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud) said: I later saw him killed as an infidel.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1406In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 6English translation : Book 7, Hadith 1401
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1406
This hadith gives a vivid report about sujud tilawah in Surah an-Najm. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud says that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم recited Surah an-Najm and prostrated. Everyone present prostrated with him, except a man who took pebbles or dust, raised it to his face, and said that it was enough for him. Ibn Mas'ud later says he saw that man killed as an unbeliever. For searches like Surah Najm sajdah hadith, Prophet prostrated in An-Najm, and sujud tilawah hadith, this narration shows the public response to a verse of prostration. The explanation should not add extra details about the man or the setting beyond what the hadith states.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم recited Surah an-Najm and prostrated.
- The people present prostrated along with him.
- One man avoided full prostration by lifting pebbles or dust to his face.
- The narration records Ibn Mas'ud's later statement without adding more background.
