In the name of Allah
Most scholars believe that prostrations for the “‘ayat of sajdah” are sunnah for both the reciter and the one who listens. According to Hanafi, the prostration for the verse of prostration is mandatory and must be made up if missed. Click here for details on this.
Both the reciter and the listener have been encouraged to perform the sujud. The Noble companions listened to the Prophet (PBUH) recite the Qur’an and followed his sujud al-tilawah.
Ibn ‘Umar said:
Allah’s Messenger was reciting as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32) when we were with him. He was prostrating himself and we were doing so along with him, but we were so crowded that none of us could find a place for his forehead when prostrating himself.’’[I]
Evidence suggests that both the reciter and listeners should perform the sujud. Those who overhear the Qur’an or were not actively listening need not make the sujud.
Al Nawawi said: al-Shafi’I said, “I do not emphasize this for the one who merely overheard it as I emphasize it for the attentive listener.” And this is the correct opinion.’’[ii]
Traditional Hanafi scholars have stated that there are three situations where the Qur’an recital prostration (sajdah al-tilawah) is not necessary for 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.
These rules apply to all listeners, regardless of whether the reciter is a Muslim, mature, male, or non-Muslim, prepubescent, ritually impure, or female. Imam Al Nawawi said this is the correct opinion.
References:
[i] Bukhari and Muslim
[ii] Etiquette with The Quran, Imam al Nawawi, page 79