Things we need to know about Sajdatut-Tilawah (prostration of recitation)?

What is “Sajdatut-Tilawah and How Many prostrations?

Sajdatut-Tilawah is one prostration which the Muslim performs when he reads any of the verses of prostration, which are marked in the Mus-haf.
The jurists agreed that Sujud At-Tilawah consists of one prostration.”

Narrated Ibn `Umar.: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the Sura which contained the prostration of recitation he used to prostrate and then, we, too, would prostrate and some of us did not find a place for prostration. Sahih al-Bukhari 1079

What to Recite in “Sajdatut-Tilawah?

The same dhikr and du`as are prescribed in sujud al-tilawah as in the prostration during prayer,What is obligatory is to say “Subhana Rabbiy al-A’la (Glory be to my Lord Most High), as is obligatory during the prostration of prayer. Any additional du’a or dhikr is mustahabb.

Here is a dua prescribed in sujud al-tilawah.

اللّهُـمَّ لَكَ سَـجَدْتُ وَبِـكَ آمَنْـت ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَـمْت ، سَجَـدَ وَجْهـي للَّـذي خَلَقَـهُ وَصَـوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْـعَـهُ وَبَصَـرَه ، تَبـارَكَ اللهُ أَحْسـنُ الخـالِقيـن

Allahumma laka sajadtu wa bika amantu wa laka aslamtu, sajada wajhi lilladhi khalaqahu wa sawwarahu wa shaqqa sam’ahu wa basarahu bi hawlihi wa quwwatihi, tabarak Allahu ahsan al-khaliqin

O Allah, unto You I have prostrated and in You I have believed, and unto You I have submitted. My face has prostrated before Him Who created it and fashioned it, and brought forth its faculties of hearing and seeing by His Might and Power. Blessed is Allah, the Best of creators

Is Sajdatut-Tilawah obligatory?

Sujud al-tilawah , whether during prayer or outside of it, is Sunnah, not obligatory, because evidence to that effect was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), in the hadith of Zayd ibn Thabit and in the hadith of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Narrated Rabi`a: `Umar bin Al-Khattab recited Surat-an-Nahl on a Friday on the pulpit and when he reached the verse of Sajda he got down from the pulpit and prostrated and the people also prostrated. The next Friday `Umar bin Al-Khattab recited the same Sura and when he reached the verse of Sajda he said, "O people! When we recite the verses of Sajda (during the sermon) whoever prostrates does the right thing, yet it is no sin for the one who does not prostrate." And `Umar did not prostrate (that day). Added Ibn `Umar "Allah has not made the prostration of recitation compulsory but if we wish we can do it."Sahih al-Bukhari 1077

How many places in the Quran where we should perform Sajdatut-Tilawah?

There are fifteen places in the Quran where we should perform Sajdatut-Tilawah (prostration of recitation) when reciting them.

‘Amr ibn al-’As narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited to him fifteen verses in the Quran where one should prostrate, three of which are in al-Mufassal and two in Surat al-Hajj. It was reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim and al-Daraqutni, and classed as hasan by al-Mundhiri and al-Nawawi.

Brightening by Fatawa!

Question: If I come across a Verse in which there is a prostration when I am reciting the Quran at my desk, or when I am teaching the students, or in any place, should I perform Sajdatut-Tilawah, or not? And is the prostration for the reciter and the listener both? 

Answer: Sajdatut-Tilawah is a Sunnah for the reciter and for the listener and it is not an obligation, nor is it prescribed for the listener except in following of the reciter. So if you recite a Verse in which there is a prostration in your office or the place of instruction, it is lawful for you to make prostration and it is prescribed for the students to prostrate with you, because they are the listeners. And if you do not observe the prostration, there is no objection. 

Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 282, Darussalam English Publication