The prostration of the person while reciting the Quran whenever he passes by an ayah of prostration is a form of etiquette that one follows towards Allah, Exalted be He; it manifests one’s humility and submission to Him and good faith in Him. It is a way to raise one’s rank and attain blessings in this worldly life and the Hereafter. Whoever refrains from prostrating to Allah out of haughtiness will incur loss and ruin in this world and Hereafter. In this hadeeth, ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿood(may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ had recited Surah al-Najm, and then prostrated therein. This incident occurred in Makkah. The prostration of recitation being discussed was performed at the end of the surah where Allah, Most High, says: {Instead, prostrate to Allah and worship Him alone.’} [Quran 28:62] None remained [standing] among the people, except that they had all prostrated with him ﷺ. Meaning: whoever ibn Masʿood saw and reported on, or whoever was present during his recitation - from amongst the Muslims, the polytheists, the jinn and mankind; like what is mentioned in a report [narrated] by al-Bukhaaree, on the authority of Ibn Abbaas(may Allah be pleased with both of them). It has been said that the reason the polytheists prostrated although they did not believe in the Quran is because it was the first prostration that was revealed; thus, they wanted to oppose the Muslims by prostrating to their idols - and not Allah. As the Muslims prostrate to Allah, Exalted be He; the polytheists intended to differ from them in their prostrationto Allah. For that reason, they prostrated [while] intending that their prostration was for their gods [alone]. This is consistent with their stubbornness and arrogance towards the Truth, and their endeavours to support their gods. A different interpretation was offered i.e., it has been suggested that they fell down in prostration with no malintent - as if the Quran, by its composition and eloquence, took over their intellects and hearts. Thus, when they got a hold of themselves, they prostrated after they heard: {Instead, prostrate to Allah and worship Him alone.’} [Quran 28:62].Or, they were afraid to oppose the Muslims while they were present in their gathering. Then, ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿood(may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a man who was in attendance haughtily prostrated [with the rest of at the gathering]. However, he was content with taking a handful of pebbles or dust; and raised it to his face and said: “This will suffice me!” This man’s [name] is Umayyah ibn Khalaf, and ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿood(may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Later, I saw that arrogant man killed as a disbeliever.” In the Quran, there are 15 places where the prostration of recitation is performed, according to the dominant opinion. It is prescribed to say in the prostration of recitation what is prescribed to say in the prostrations for prayer, with respect to the tasbeehand supplication. Some of the other benefits that we can conclude from this hadeeth is to know the permissibility of prostrating at the [end] of Surah al-Najm, and that we should condemn arrogance, and avoid engaging in it..