This paper investigates why the Hanafi school recognizes only one prostration (sajdah) in Sūrah al-Ḥajj, rather than two. The analysis situates the Hanafi methodology within its historical lineage, tracing legal thought from ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd through Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī to Imām Abū Ḥanīfah. Key to this framework are the foundational principles of thubūt (authenticity), dalālah (indication), and the divine wilāyah (authority) involved in designating ritual acts of worship.
The study examines the rigorous epistemic standards necessary to classify an āyah al-sajdah—a Qur’ānic verse mandating prostration. The Hanafi position mandates that such verses must be firmly established through sound transmission from the Prophet ﷺ and the early generations (salaf). Based on these criteria, only the first verse in Sūrah al-Ḥajj qualifies. While the later verse (22:77) contains a command to prostrate, it lacks authenticated prophetic precedent for an independent act and aligns textually with instructions for formal prayer (ṣalāh).
Ultimately, the Hanafi stance reflects a commitment to epistemic discipline, ensuring only firmly established reports dictate independent acts of worship. Reports suggesting two prostrations are either weak or refer to prostrations within prayer. As Ibn ‘Abbās explained, “The first is a command (‘azīmah), while the second is instruction (for prayer).”
