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.
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