Skip to content 
How Many Sajdahs Are in the Quran? There are 15 commonly identified Sajdah positions in the Quran, but the number used in Islamic practice can be 14 depending on the school of Islamic jurisprudence. The Hanafi school counts 14, while the 15-position list includes both positions in Surah Al-Hajj and is supported by a well-known narration attributed to ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAs.
So if you have seen 14 Sajdahs in one Quran and 15 in another, that does not necessarily mean one copy is wrong.
The difference comes from how scholars classify particular verses, especially Surah Al-Hajj 22:77 and Surah Sad 38:24.
This guide explains the complete list, where each Sajdah occurs, what Sajdah Tilawah means, how to perform it, and why different sources give different numbers.
What Is Sajdah Tilawah?
Sajdah Tilawah, also called Sujud al-Tilawah, is the prostration associated with certain Quranic verses.
The Arabic word sajdah refers to prostration. Tilawah means recitation. Together, Sajdah Tilawah means the prostration connected with Quran recitation.
These verses are commonly called Ayat al-Sajdah, meaning verses of prostration.
When a person reaches a designated Sajdah verse while reciting the Quran, the relevant Islamic ruling is to perform a prostration according to the school of thought being followed.
The Quran itself contains several passages describing people, angels, and creation prostrating before Allah. The Sajdah marks found in many printed Qurans help readers identify the places associated with this practice. The Quranic Arabic Corpus records a sajdah mark at 15 locations.
That brings us to the question people usually ask first.
How Many Sajdahs Are in the Quran?
There are 15 commonly listed Sajdah positions in the Quran.
However, 14 is the count used by the Hanafi school. The Hanafi list includes the Sajdah associated with Surah Sad 38:24 but does not count Surah Al-Hajj 22:77 as a Sajdah Tilawah position.
A narration reported from ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAs states that the Prophet ﷺ taught him fifteen prostrations during Quran recitation, including three in al-Mufassal and two in Surah Al-Hajj.
So the most useful way to remember the answer is:
15 positions are commonly identified in the Quranic text and traditional lists, while the Hanafi school counts 14 Sajdah Tilawah positions.
The number is therefore not simply a matter of one website being correct and another being wrong.
Why do some people say 14 and others say 15?
Two locations cause much of the confusion:
- Surah Al-Hajj 22:77
- Surah Sad 38:24
The Hanafi school counts Sad 38:24 and does not count Al-Hajj 22:77 as Sajdah Tilawah.
The Shafi’i position treats the two locations differently, counting Al-Hajj 22:77 rather than Sad 38:24 as a Sajdah Tilawah position. Some Hanbali classifications include both, resulting in 15.
This is why the phrase “14 or 15 Sajdahs” appears so frequently in Quran-learning resources.
Where Are the Sajdahs in the Quran?
Here is the commonly listed set of 15 Sajdah positions.
| # | Surah | Ayah | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-A’raf | 7:206 | Sajdah |
| 2 | Ar-Ra’d | 13:15 | Sajdah |
| 3 | An-Nahl | 16:50 | Sajdah |
| 4 | Al-Isra | 17:109 | Sajdah |
| 5 | Maryam | 19:58 | Sajdah |
| 6 | Al-Hajj | 22:18 | Sajdah |
| 7 | Al-Hajj | 22:77 | Disputed in fiqh |
| 8 | Al-Furqan | 25:60 | Sajdah |
| 9 | An-Naml | 27:26 | Sajdah |
| 10 | As-Sajdah | 32:15 | Sajdah |
| 11 | Sad | 38:24 | Disputed classification |
| 12 | Fussilat | 41:38 | Sajdah |
| 13 | An-Najm | 53:62 | Sajdah |
| 14 | Al-Inshiqaq | 84:21 | Sajdah |
| 15 | Al-Alaq | 96:19 | Sajdah |
The locations above correspond to the commonly used 15-position list. The Quranic Arabic Corpus also identifies the sajdah marks at these 15 verse locations.
A note about An-Nahl 16:49 and 16:50
You may see Surah An-Nahl 16:49 in some references and 16:50 in others.
This is worth explaining rather than leaving readers confused.
The passage concerning prostration extends across the two verses, while the sajdah marker in the Quranic Arabic Corpus is placed at 16:50. Some traditional lists identify the passage by 16:49 because the relevant statement begins there.
For an online article, using An-Nahl 16:50 for the marked Sajdah location is a clear choice, while noting the 16:49/16:50 variation prevents confusion.
Which Surahs Have Sajdah in the Quran?
The Sajdah positions occur in these Surahs:
- Surah Al-A’raf
- Surah Ar-Ra’d
- Surah An-Nahl
- Surah Al-Isra
- Surah Maryam
- Surah Al-Hajj
- Surah Al-Furqan
- Surah An-Naml
- Surah As-Sajdah
- Surah Sad
- Surah Fussilat
- Surah An-Najm
- Surah Al-Inshiqaq
- Surah Al-Alaq
There are 15 commonly listed positions but only 14 Surahs, because Surah Al-Hajj contains two positions in the 15-location reckoning: 22:18 and 22:77.
That is another useful distinction.
Someone asking “how many Sajdah Surahs are in the Quran?” is asking a slightly different question from someone asking “how many Sajdah positions are in the Quran?”
What Is the First Sajdah in the Quran?
The first commonly identified Sajdah position occurs in:
Surah Al-A’raf — 7:206
The verse describes those near their Lord who glorify Him and prostrate before Him.
This is the first position in the commonly listed sequence of Sajdah verses.
If you are reading a printed Mushaf, look for the Sajdah symbol or the word indicating Sajdah near the relevant verse.
What Is the Last Sajdah in the Quran?
The final commonly identified Sajdah position occurs in:
Surah Al-Alaq — 96:19
The verse concludes with the command to prostrate and draw near to Allah.
It is therefore commonly described as the last Sajdah verse in the Quran. The Quranic Arabic Corpus lists 96:19 as the final location among its 15 sajdah marks.
Why Does Surah Al-Hajj Have Two Sajdah Positions?
Surah Al-Hajj is unusual because two verses are associated with prostration:
- Al-Hajj 22:18
- Al-Hajj 22:77
The first is included in the Hanafi list.
The second is the source of a major difference in classification. According to a Hanafi ruling, 22:77 is not treated as a Sajdah Tilawah verse, although it is recognized as such in the Shafi’i school.
A narration also specifically discusses two prostrations in Surah Al-Hajj.
This is one reason simply publishing a list of “15 Sajdahs” without explaining the scholarly difference can leave readers more confused than before.
Why Is Surah Sad 38:24 Different?
Surah Sad 38:24 is another important point of disagreement.
In the Hanafi school, this verse is counted among the Sajdah Tilawah positions. A Hanafi source lists it as one of the 14 Sajdah Tilawah verses.
Other scholars classify the prostration associated with this verse differently. This is why a person following another school may encounter a list that does not include Sad 38:24 but instead includes Al-Hajj 22:77.
The practical lesson is simple:
If your Quran teacher, mosque, or fiqh reference gives you 14 Sajdahs, ask which 14 they mean.
“Fourteen” does not always refer to exactly the same 14 locations.
What Does the Sajdah Symbol in the Quran Mean?
Many printed Qurans use a small symbol such as ۩ to indicate a Sajdah location.
The Quranic Arabic Corpus describes the sajdah mark as a verse mark indicating prostration when reciting the relevant verse. It lists the mark at 15 locations.
The exact appearance can vary between Mushafs and editions, so focus on the purpose of the mark rather than its graphic design.
If you are learning Quran online, your teacher may also point out the mark during screen sharing or recitation practice.
How Do You Perform Sajdah Tilawah?
The basic act is one prostration.
However, the detailed conditions and rulings differ between schools of Islamic jurisprudence. Because of that, an article intended for a broad Muslim audience should avoid presenting one fiqh position as though every Muslim follows it.
For a person following the Hanafi school, Sajdah Tilawah has specific conditions relating to purification and performance.
A commonly described method outside Salah is:
- Finish or reach the relevant Sajdah verse.
- Make the intention for Sajdah Tilawah.
- Say Allahu Akbar and go into prostration.
- Perform one Sujud.
- Make the appropriate supplication or glorification while in Sujud.
- Rise from the prostration.
A Hanafi guide describes Sajdah Tilawah as a single prostration and lists the relevant 14 locations.
The exact procedural details should be learned according to the madhab you follow.
Do You Need Wudu for Sajdah Tilawah?
This is another question where a blanket answer can mislead readers.
The Hanafi position treats Wudu as a requirement for Sajdah Tilawah. Hanafi guidance therefore advises a person who encounters the verse without Wudu to perform the Sajdah after making Wudu.
Other schools have different positions concerning the conditions of Sajdah Tilawah.
So if you are asking:
“Can I perform Sajdah Tilawah without Wudu?”
the responsible answer is:
Follow the ruling of your school of Islamic jurisprudence or ask a qualified local scholar.
For a beginner, keeping Wudu when reciting Quran and when expecting to encounter a Sajdah verse is a practical way to avoid this particular question.
Is Sajdah Tilawah Wajib or Sunnah?
The answer depends on the school of thought.
The Hanafi school considers Sajdah Tilawah wajib when its conditions are met. Hanafi sources list the relevant 14 Sajdah positions and treat their performance as an obligation.
Other schools classify Sajdah Tilawah as Sunnah rather than wajib.
This difference matters because articles sometimes say simply:
“Sajdah Tilawah is obligatory.”
That statement is too broad for a general audience.
A better explanation is:
Sajdah Tilawah is treated as wajib in Hanafi fiqh, while other schools have different rulings concerning its status.
That gives the reader useful information without pretending that one fiqh ruling represents everyone.
What Should You Say During Sajdah Tilawah?
There are supplications reported for Sajdah Tilawah.
One commonly cited supplication begins:
“Sajada wajhiya lilladhi khalaqahu…”
It expresses the meaning that the person’s face has prostrated to the One who created it and gave it hearing and sight.
Islamic sources also discuss other supplications associated with Sajdah Tilawah.
If you are a beginner and have not memorized a specific Sajdah Tilawah dua, learn the supplication from a qualified Quran teacher or reliable Islamic reference rather than copying an unverified transliteration from a random website.
Is Sajdah Tilawah the Same as Sajdah in Salah?
No.
They are related because both involve prostration, but they occur in different circumstances.
Sajdah in Salah
This is the normal prostration that occurs as part of the prayer.
Sajdah Tilawah
This is the prostration associated with a designated Quranic verse during recitation.
Sajdah Tilawah is therefore not another complete prayer and should not be confused with the two Sujoods performed in each ordinary prayer unit.
That distinction is especially useful for children and new Quran students.
What If You Are Listening to Someone Recite the Quran?
The ruling can depend on how the recitation is being heard and which school of thought you follow.
For example, Hanafi guidance treats hearing a Sajdah verse from a live reciter as relevant to the ruling of Sajdah Tilawah. Questions about recorded audio, phone apps, videos, and other forms of playback have separate scholarly discussions.
This is an area where online articles frequently turn a school-specific ruling into a universal statement.
If you regularly listen to Quran through an app or recording and want to know whether every Sajdah mark requires you to prostrate, follow the ruling taught by your qualified scholar or madhab.
What Are the Common Mistakes With Sajdah Tilawah?
Mistake 1: Assuming 14 and 15 are contradictory
They are not necessarily contradictory.
The difference is connected to scholarly classification, particularly Sad 38:24 and Al-Hajj 22:77.
Mistake 2: Treating every list online as identical
They are not.
Some lists contain 14 locations, some contain 15, and some sources use different verse-number descriptions for passages such as An-Nahl.
Always check the source and the fiqh position behind the list.
Mistake 3: Confusing a Sajdah mark with the number of Surahs
There are 15 commonly listed positions but only 14 Surahs containing those positions because Al-Hajj appears twice in the 15-position list.
Mistake 4: Giving one fiqh ruling to every Muslim
A Hanafi ruling should be identified as Hanafi.
A Shafi’i ruling should be identified as Shafi’i.
This is especially important for questions about whether Sajdah Tilawah is wajib, whether Wudu is required, and which disputed location is counted.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the verse reference
Saying “there is a Sajdah in Surah Al-Hajj” is less useful than saying Al-Hajj 22:18 or explaining the additional disputed position at 22:77.
Exact references make a Quran-learning article much more useful.
A Simple Way to Memorize the Sajdah Locations
Instead of trying to memorize all 15 numbers at once, learn the Surah names first.
The sequence is:
Al-A’raf → Ar-Ra’d → An-Nahl → Al-Isra → Maryam → Al-Hajj → Al-Hajj → Al-Furqan → An-Naml → As-Sajdah → Sad → Fussilat → An-Najm → Al-Inshiqaq → Al-Alaq
Then associate the Ayah numbers with them:
206, 15, 50, 109, 58, 18, 77, 60, 26, 15, 24, 38, 62, 21, 19.
The disputed positions are the ones to pay particular attention to:
Al-Hajj 22:77 and Sad 38:24.
If you follow Hanafi fiqh, use the Hanafi list rather than simply copying a generic 15-position table. A Hanafi source lists 14 positions and includes Sad 38:24.
Are All 15 Sajdah Positions Marked in the Quran?
The answer depends on what you mean by “marked.”
The Quranic Arabic Corpus identifies the sajdah mark at 15 locations.
But printed Mushafs can differ in their treatment of disputed locations because Quranic editions may follow particular recitation, scholarly, or fiqh conventions.
That is why you should not panic if the Mushaf you use does not display a Sajdah symbol at exactly the same place as another edition.
For practical Quran study, the safest approach is to follow the Mushaf and fiqh guidance used by your qualified teacher.
Why Is Learning Sajdah Tilawah Important for Quran Students?
A student can spend months learning Tajweed, memorizing Surahs, and improving pronunciation while still being unsure what to do when a Sajdah verse appears.
That is an avoidable problem.
A good Quran course should teach students to recognize the Sajdah mark as part of their normal Quran-reading skills. Children learning Quran should know that a Sajdah verse is different from an ordinary verse. Adults returning to Quran study after years away should learn the same thing.
The point is not to turn every reading session into a complicated fiqh lesson.
It is to make the student confident enough to stop, identify the relevant verse, and follow the correct ruling.
Online Quran Classes for Kids and Adults
Frequently Asked Questions About Sajdah in the Quran
How many Sajdahs are there in the Quran?
There are 15 commonly identified Sajdah positions, while the Hanafi school counts 14 Sajdah Tilawah positions. The difference is primarily connected with the classification of Surah Sad 38:24 and Al-Hajj 22:77.
Are there 14 or 15 Sajdahs in the Quran?
Both numbers appear in reliable Islamic discussions because scholars classify some locations differently. A narration attributed to ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAs reports fifteen prostrations, while Hanafi fiqh uses a 14-position list.
Which Surah has two Sajdahs?
Surah Al-Hajj has two positions in the commonly cited 15-location list: 22:18 and 22:77. The second position is disputed in fiqh.
What is the first Sajdah in the Quran?
The first commonly identified Sajdah is Surah Al-A’raf, 7:206.
What is the last Sajdah in the Quran?
The final commonly identified Sajdah is Surah Al-Alaq, 96:19.
What is Sajdah Tilawah?
Sajdah Tilawah is the prostration associated with designated Quranic verses during recitation. These verses are commonly called Ayat al-Sajdah.
Is Sajdah Tilawah obligatory?
In Hanafi fiqh, Sajdah Tilawah is wajib. Other schools classify it differently, generally treating it as a Sunnah.
Does every Quran have 15 Sajdah marks?
Not necessarily in the same way. The treatment of disputed locations can differ between Mushafs and scholarly traditions. The Quranic Arabic Corpus identifies 15 sajdah marks, while Hanafi fiqh recognizes 14 Sajdah Tilawah positions.
Is Surah Sad 38:24 a Sajdah?
It is counted as a Sajdah Tilawah position in the Hanafi school. Other schools classify this location differently.
Is Al-Hajj 22:77 a Sajdah?
It is recognized as a Sajdah position in some scholarly traditions, including the Shafi’i position, while the Hanafi school does not count it as a Sajdah Tilawah position.
Where can I find the Sajdah mark in the Quran?
Look for the Sajdah symbol, commonly displayed as ۩, or a marginal indication of Sajdah. The exact presentation varies between Quran editions. Trustpilot Reviews
The Bottom Line
If you only need the short answer, remember this:
The Quran is commonly described as having 15 Sajdah positions, but Hanafi fiqh counts 14 Sajdah Tilawah positions.
The important part is understanding why.
The difference is not simply an error in counting. It comes from scholarly classification of particular locations, especially Al-Hajj 22:77 and Sad 38:24. A reliable Quran-learning resource should tell readers this rather than forcing everyone into a single number.
If you are studying Quran with a teacher, use the Sajdah list and ruling taught according to your school of thought. If you are unsure which ruling applies to you, ask a qualified scholar rather than relying on a generic internet list.
For students learning Quran online, this is one of the small details worth learning early: recognize the Sajdah mark, know which list you follow, and learn the correct method from your teacher.
