Sajdat al-Shukr (Prostration of Thanksgiving)
The prostration of thanksgiving on receiving good news (no wudu required).
A single prostration made on receiving good news or a blessing — established by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions rather than by an explicit verbal command.
Definition & basis
There is no hadith saying “when good comes, prostrate,” yet the concept is grounded in the Quran (Q 38:24) and the Sunnah. Its clearest seerah proof is in the story of Ka’b ibn Malik: on hearing that Allah had accepted his repentance, Ka’b fell into sajdah on his rooftop.
Fiqh points
- It does not require wudu — one prostrates in whatever state one is in.
- Whether to say “Allahu akbar” on going into it is a minor difference of opinion; better to say it.
- A related sunnah in the same story: the Prophet ﷺ prayed two rak’at on returning from a journey before sitting with the people.
Cross-references
The Story of Ka'b ibn Malik (The Three Who Stayed Behind) · Salah (the Five Daily Prayers) · Muhammad ﷺ
Sources
- S011 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 089. Sahih Bukhari & Muslim (Ka’b’s narration). Quran 38:24.