SUJUD AS-SAHWĪ (PROSTRATION OF FORGETFULNESS)

 SUJUD AS-SAHWĪ (PROSTRATION OF FORGETFULNESS)

By: Dr. Issah Abeebllahi Obalowu

Is the two prostrations that are done before or

after at-taslim to rectify the mistakes that occur

in the prayer. The Prophet (SAW) himself

used to forget in his prayer, so, he taught his

companions the prostration of forgetfulness.

The Prophet (SAW) did sujud as-sahwi in the

following cases:

If You are Confused About Your Prayer

1)    The Prophet (SAW) prayed one day, and when he had finished the prayer, he was asked, "O Allah's Messenger (SAW)! Has there been any change in the prayers?" He said, "What is it?' The people said, "You have prayed so and so." (He was informed about the mistake that occurred in prayer). So, the Prophet (SAW) bent his legs, faced the Qibla and performed two prostrations of forgetfulness, and finished his prayer with Taslim (by turning his face to right and left saying: 'As-Salamu `Alaikum- Warahmat-ullah'). When he turned his face to his companions, he said, "If there had been anything changed in the prayer, surely I would have informed you, but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So, if I forget, do remind me, and if anyone of you is doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be correct and complete his prayer accordingly. Then, he should do two prostrations of forgetfulness.  (Sahih al-Bukhari: 401).

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudrī reported: the Messenger of Allah (SAW)

said: When any one of you is in doubt about his prayer and

didn’t know how much he has prayed, three or four (rak'ahs),

he should cast aside his doubt and base his prayer on what

he is sure of. Then he should perform two prostrations before

doing at-taslim. If he has prayed five rak'ahs, they will make

his prayer an even number for him, and if he has prayed

exactly four, they will be a humiliation for the devil. (Sahih

Muslim: 571).

 

If You Forget to Sit for the First at-Tashahud

2)    Allah's Messenger (SAW) once led a prayer and got up for the third rak`ah without sitting for at-tashahud after the second rak`ah. The people also got up with him, and when he was about to finish his prayer after the last at-tashahud, he said Takbir before Taslim and performed two prostrations while sitting and then finished the prayer with Taslim. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1224).

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) also said: “If anyone of you stands after two Rak’ah, if he has not yet stood up fully, let him sit down again, but if he has stood up fully, then let him not sit down, and let him perform two prostrations for forgetfulness.” (Sunan Ibn Majah: 1208).

If You Pray Five Rak‘ah Instead of Four or 

Three Rak‘ah Instead of Two

3)    Once the Prophet (SAW) offered five rak`at in Zuhr prayer. He was asked, "Is there an increase in the prayer?" The Prophet (SAW) said, "And what is it?" They said, "You have prayed five rak`at.' So, he bent his legs and performed two prostrations of forgetfulness. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 404).

When You Forget and Say at-Taslim before 

the Completion of Salat

4)    Abu Hurayrah reported: once Allah's Messenger (SAW) offered two rak`at and finished his prayer. So, one of the companions asked him, "Has the prayer been reduced, or have you forgotten?" Allah's Messenger said to the companions, "Has this companion spoken the truth?" The people replied in the affirmative. Then Allah's Messenger (SAW) stood up and offered the remaining two rak`at and performed Taslim, and then said Takbir and performed two prostrations like his usual prostrations, or a bit longer, and then got up. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1228).

 

CLARIFICATION

Based on the above narrations, it is obvious that the Prophet

(SAW) differentiates between the increase and decrease, and

between a doubt that later becomes certain, and a doubt

which is later resolved by choosing the most correct.

·        So, if any omission happens in a prayer, it requires rectification, and it can only happen before the end of the prayer, so, sujud al-sahwi should be done before at-tsalim.

·        If the increase occurs in a prayer, sujud sahwi should be done after at-taslim to avoid two increases in a prayer.

·        Likewise, if a doubt occurs in prayer and later becomes certain, sujud sahwi should be done after at-taslim, since the prayer is complete.

·        If a doubt occurs in prayer and is later resolved by choosing the most correct option, the sujud sahwi should be done before at-taslim.

·        If any other error that is not mentioned in the narrations occurs in prayer, the two prostrations can be done after or before at-taslim.

The above clarifications will enable us to work with all the narrations related to the matter. However, there are several opinions from scholars and jurists regarding whether the two prostrations should be always done before or after at-taslim.