Errors or forget in your prayer
when we commit some errors or forget to do something (which is supposedly a part of Salat/Prayer); such cases are dealt with Two Sujood Sahw (prostrations of forgetfulness).
Ziyad ibn Ilaqah said: Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah led us in prayer and he stood up at the end of two rak'ahs. We said: Glory be to Allah; he also said: Glory be to Allah, and he proceeded. When he finished the prayer and gave the salutation, he made two prostrations of forgetfulness. When he turned (to us) he said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing so as I did.
Let us find out the correct way of dealing with such cases, according to Sunnah
1. If we forget any part of Rakaat or a whole Rakaat during Prayer/Salat:
Narrated by Abdullah bin Buhaina Al-Asdi (RA):
“Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) stood up for the Zuhr prayer and he should have sat (after the second rak`a but he stood up for the third rak`a without sitting for Tashah-hud) and when he finished the prayer he performed two prostrations and said Takbir on each prostration while sitting, before ending (the prayer) with Taslim; and the people too performed the two prostrations with him instead of the sitting he forgot.” (Sahih Bukhari: 1230)
This hadith tells us that if we forget to pray At-Tahhiyat in second Rakaat of any prayer consisting of more than two Rakaat (i.e. Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib or Isha), we should do Sujood Sahw in last Rakaat before finishing the prayer with Taslim.
On similar lines, if someone forgets a whole Rakaat or more than a Rakaat, then again Sujood Sahw has to be performed. Refer to following hadith:
Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reported; The Prophet (S.A.W.) offered the noon prayer and he gave the salutation at the end of two rakahs. He was asked. Has the prayer been shortened? then he offered two rakahs of the prayer and made two prostrations (at the end of it). (Abu Dawud: 1014)
NOTE: In other similar narrations it is mentioned that he performed prostrations after Taslim.
2. If we pray additional Rakaat in Salat:
Narrated Abdullah (RA):
Once Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) offered five rak`at in the Zuhr prayer, and somebody asked him whether there was some increase in the prayer. Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) said, "What is that?" He said, "You have offered five rak`at." So Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) performed two prostrations of Sahu after Taslim. (Sahih Bukhari: 1226)
This narration tells us that the Prophet (S.A.W.) performed Sujood Sahw in this case after Taslim. The reason is simple, by the time he came to know that he has prayed additional Rakaat, he had completed his prayer. So he performed Sujood Sahw as soon as he came to know about his forgetfulness.
3. What to do when in doubt about how many Rakaat we have prayed while in Salat?
Forgetfulness is a normal thing which can happen with any human being. Shaitan/Satan/Devil leaves no stone unturned to keep our attentions diverted and distracted from good deeds. This is also one of those efforts of Devil/Shaitan and a Muslim is supposed to be well versed with the technique of combating these tactics of Devil/Shaitan.
If during a prayer any of us forgets which number of Rakaat is he/she is praying (or how many Rakaat he/she has completed by that time), then he/she is supposed to act according to following advice from our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.):
It was narrated from Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (R.A.) that:
‘The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: "If one of you does not know whether he prayed three or four (rak'ahs), let him pray a rak'ah then prostrate twice after that when he is sitting. Then if he prayed five (rak'ahs), they (the two prostrations) will make his prayer even-numbered, and if he had prayed four, they will annoy and humiliate the shaitan.”’ (An-Nasai: 1239)
Therefore, in case of doubt, one should act upon whatever is certain. For example, if one is not sure how many Rakaat he/she has performed, two or three and four or five, he/she should take the lesser number as the basis. Based on the number, he/she should proceed to perform the remaining Rakaat and complete the prayer by performing two prostrations (of Sahw).
4. Sujood Sahw is to be done before Taslim or after Taslim?
After going through all the narrations mentioned above, we come across two scenarios: in one case we come to know that Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) performed two prostrations before Taslim, while in other case he performed two prostrations after Taslim. Although, I see no point of confusion, still different views prevail about whether one should perform Sujood Sahw before or after Taslim?
Imam Shafi’s view is that the prostrations should be performed before Taslim. However, this view cannot be made universal as there are narrations which prove that the Prophet (S.A.W.) performed it after Taslim as well.
According to Imam Ahmad, whatever is reported from the Prophet (S.A.W.) about the prostrations for As-Sahw, is to be acted upon. It can be before Taslim or after Taslim, depending upon the cases as done by our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.). In cases where it is reported that the Prophet (S.A.W.) performed Sujood Sahw before Taslim, we should follow that way. For cases where it is reported that the Prophet (S.A.W.) performed Sujood Sahw after Taslim, we have to follow that way. In cases where nothing is reported about, then two prostrations should be followed before Taslim.
5. Sujood Sahw is accompanied by Takbir:
If we revert back to the Hadith mentioned in Section 1, we see that there is mention of Takbir (saying Allah-o-Akbar). Therefore, Takbir is to be said before performing Sujood Sahw.
6. Tashahhud is not recited after performing Sujood Sahw:
Narrated Salama bin Alqama (R.A.):
‘I asked Muhammad (bin Seereen) whether Tashah-hud should be recited after the two prostrations of Sahu. He replied, "It is not (mentioned) in Abu Huraira's narration."’ (Sahih Bukhari: 1228)
7. Sujood Sahw should be performed for Nawafil prayers also.
Imam Al-Bukhari has said in his Sahih Bukhari “Bab al-Sahw fi’l-fard wa’l-tatawwu’ [Chapter on forgetfulness in obligatory and voluntary (prayers)]. Ibn Abbas (R.A.) did two prostrations after Witr, and al-Haafiz said in al-Fath, commenting on the report of Ibn Abbas: this was narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah with a saheeh isnaad.
In the light is above mentioned Hadith, it is clear that Sujood Sahw should be performed if we commit an error during Nawafil prayers too.
8. How many prostrations are to be performed for forgetfulness?
No. of prostrations for forgetfulness are two. Some schools of thoughts state that only one prostration is done for forgetfulness. However, almost all the narrations regarding the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) action in this context refers to two prostrations (refer to all narrations mentioned in this discussion). Hence, two prostrations are to be performed.
9. It is wrong to say that Sujood Sahw cannot be performed if the person has talked after Salat.
Some schools of thoughts are of the view that Sujood Sahw can be performed only till we have not talked after Salat. This is not correct, as several of the narrations mentioned above (in Section 1 & Section 2) tell us that Rasool-Allah (S.A.W.) was reminded by others of his forgetfulness after he had completed his Salat and he talked to the persons who reminded him, confirmed his forgetfulness and then performed Sujood Sahw. Therefore, one is allowed to perform prostrations of forgetfulness even if he/she has talked after Salat.
Concluding remarks
To err is human. Therefore, it is natural that one may make mistakes; it can happen during Salat too. However, as discussed above, a Muslim should be well versed about how to amend his/her mistake during a prayer so as not to let the prayer be affected. We have discussed the actions of our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) which all of are supposed to follow.
Remember, Sujood Sahw compensates for minor mistakes / errors / forgetfulness, like those mentioned in different narrations above. Bigger mistakes (like not reciting Surah Fatiha, or starting pray without Ablution (Wudu) etc.) should not be (or rather cannot be) compensated by Sujood Sahw.
Also, more than one error during a prayer does not require additional prostrations. One set of prostrations for forgetfulness is enough.
So, next time, when anyone of us commit any mistake (among those mentioned above), then he/she should not worry. Rather remember the procedure(s) for Sujood Sahw for each case and be assured.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah forgive me if I am wrong and guide us to the right path…Ameen.
They are two occasions when they are required:
I. When you add or subtract to the acts of salah.
Examples of addition:
You pray 5 rakahs instead of 4.
You do three prostrations instead of two.
You make tashahhud at the end of first rakah.
Example of subtraction:
You pray 3 rakahs instead of 4.
You do one sajdah instead of two.
You get up for the third rakah without doing the first tashahhud.
II. When you forget the number of rakahs and are in doubt, (for example) whether you prayed
three of four rakahs.
Missing a Rukn (Essential Component or Pillar of Salah)
If you omit the Takbiratul-Ihram, then there is no prayer for you, regardless of whether
you left it intentionally or due to forgetfulness, because you never started the prayer.
If you omit a rukn other than the Takbiratul-Ihram deliberately, your salah is invalid.
If you left a rukn out of forgetfulness and you reached the next rakah, then the rakah in
which you left the rukn is invalid and the following rakah takes its place.
If you did not reach the next rakah, you must return to the rukn you omitted and
perform it and follow it by what comes after it in the course of the salah.
In both of the above situations, you offer the "prostration of forgetfulness".
Missing a Wajib (Obligatory act of salah)
If you leave out something wajib unintentionally, like the first tashahhud or a
prostration, you simply do sajdah as-sahw at the conclusion of prayer. However, it is left
intentionally, then the prayer is invalid.
Missing a Recommended Act in Prayer
You do not have to make the "prostration of forgetfulness" if you forget to perform one
of the recommended acts of prayer.
Method of Sajdah as-sahw
You have a choice between two ways of doing it:
1. Immediately before tasleem at the end of salah.
Before concluding the prayer with tasleem, you say Allahu Akbar, and then make the
first prostration.
In the prostration you say, Subha-na Rabbi al-A'la three times. Then you say Allahu
Akbar and return to the sitting position.
Then you say Allahu Akbar again and make the second prostration and say the same
words as you did in the first prostration.
You then say Allahu Akbar for the last time, return to the sitting position, and turn your
head to the right and then to the left, saying each time "As-Salamu 'Alaikum
wa-Rahmatullah."
2. Doing it after tasleem.
Another way is to continue your salah and end it with tasleem as you normally would.
After that you say Allahu Akbar and prostrate for your first prostration, and say
Subha-na Rabbi al-A'la three times. Then you say Allahu Akbar and return to the sitting
position.
Then you say Allahu Akbar again and do your second prostration and say Subha-na
Rabbi al-A'la three times.
Finally, you say Allahu Akbar the last time and return to the sitting position, and then
turn your face to the right saying "As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa-Rahmatullah."
Further Notes/Examples
1. If you realize before making tasleem that you have added anything to the salah, for example
an extra rakah, you may do sajdah as-sahw before or after tasleem.
2. If you did not pray one or more rakah, you must get up and complete them, then at the
conclusion of prayer you do sajdah as-sahw.
3. If you forgot to perform sajdah as-sahw, but remembered shortly afterwards, then you should
do it as soon as you remember it. However, if a long time has passed, then you do not have to do
anything and your prayer is still valid.
4. If the Imam offers sajdah as-sahw, everyone else behind him also does it, even if no individual
made a mistake.
5. If you make a mistake behind an Imam, you do not offer your own sajdah as-sahw because
the Prophet said, "Indeed, the Imam was made to be followed."[1]
6. What do you do it you are uncertain about how many rakahs you have prayed? You assume
and go by the number you are more certain of. For example, in a four rakah prayer, you think you
more likely prayed three rakahs, then you pray another one and do sajdah as-sahw. If you think
you prayed four rakahs, all you do is do sajdah as-sahw at the end. If you are unable to decide
which of the two is more probable, it could have been three or four rakahs, you assume and go by
the lesser count, i.e. three rakahs. You pray another rakah and then do sajdah as-sahw
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