Sajdah Tilawah due to Listening on Audio Recording

The traditional Hanafi scholars (fuqaha) have stated that there are three situations where the Qur’an recital prostration (sajdah al-tilawah) is not necessary on the listener.

1) Listening to the recitation of a parrot,

2) Listening to the verse of Sajdah by means of echo or reverberation,

3) Listening to the verse recited by an insane person (majnun).

Imam al-Kasani states in his Bada’i al-Sana’i, which is a fundamental reference in Hanafi Fiqh:

“Contrary to the situation where one listens to the verse (ayah) of Sajdah recited by a parrot or listens to it by the echo of a sound, as this is not considered recitation (tilawah). Similarly (m: Sajdah will not be necessary), when one listens to this verse from an insane person, as his recitation is not considered a proper recitation, for he is not competent to judge for himself.” (Bada’i al-Sana’i, 1/186)

Due to the above, contemporary scholars have explained that if an verse of Sajdah was heard on a recording, such as on a tape, CD, etc… then Sajdah al-Tilawah will not be necessary. It is similar to listening to the recitation of a parrot or by reverberation.

However, if it was heard on live broadcast, whether on a Masjid transmitter or a radio, then it will be necessary to perform a Sajdah.

And Allah Knows Best