(Sujood As-Sahw) There are two prostrations before or after the tasleem.
Linguistic Explanation:
The word “Sahw” is a verbal noun. It is derived from the form سَهَا يَسُهُو (Nasr) and means “to forget,” “to become heedless of something,” or “to have the heart directed elsewhere.”
(Ibn Hajar رحمه الله) Sahw means heedlessness of something and the heart being directed elsewhere, and some people have differentiated between Sahw and Nisyān (forgetfulness), which holds no significance.
(Allama Ayni رحمه الله) There is a subtle difference between the two: in Sahw, a person’s consciousness completely disappears, whereas in Nisyān some consciousness remains.
Technical Definition: Sujood al-Sahw refers to the two prostrations performed in prayer when a person forgets and either adds or omits something.
Legitimacy: Since the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was human, he too sometimes forgot during prayer, as he himself said:
إنما أنا بشر أنسى كما تنسون فإن نسيت فذكروني “Indeed, I am a human being; I also forget just as you forget. So if I forget, remind me.”
Therefore, Allah Almighty legislated these prostrations to compensate for mistakes occurring in prayer due to forgetfulness or negligence, which the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم conveyed to the Ummah through his sayings and actions. He said:
لكل سهو سجدتان
“For every forgetfulness, there are two prostrations.”
Moreover, the narration containing the words:
إنما أنسى أو أنسى لاسن
“Indeed, I forget because of old age or I am made to forget,” has no basis.
Ruling on the Prostrations of Forgetfulness:
Scholars differ on this issue.
(Hanafis) These prostrations are obligatory.
(Shafi’is, Malikis, Hanbalis) They are Sunnah and recommended.
(Ibn Hazm رحمه الله) These prostrations are obligatory for every addition or omission during prayer.
Those who consider it obligatory base their argument on hadiths in which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded these prostrations, for example:
➊ إذا شك وليسجد سجدتين
“When someone doubts, he should perform two prostrations.”
➋ إذا زاد الرجل أو نقص فليسجد سجدتين
“When a person adds or omits something in prayer, he should perform two prostrations.”
Performing these prostrations before or after the salam is permissible because both ways are established from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. However, the preferable and better way is that if the cause of forgetfulness is linked to an action before the salam, then the prostrations should be performed before the salam; if linked to an action after the salam, then after it. For causes not linked to either, the person has the choice to perform the prostrations before or after the salam regardless of addition or omission.
Hadiths mentioning prostrations before the salam include:
➊ Narrated from Abu Sa’id رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
إذا شك أحدكم فى صلاته فلم يدركم صلى ثلاثا م أربعا فليطرح الشك وليين على ما استيقن ثم ليسجد سجدتين قبل أن يسلم فإن كان صلى خمسا شفعن له صلاته وإن كان صلى تماما كانتا ترغيما للشيطان
“If any of you doubts how many rak’ahs he has prayed, whether three or four, he should ignore the doubt and base his prayer on what he is certain of. Then before giving salam, he should perform two prostrations of forgetfulness. If he has prayed five rak’ahs, these two prostrations will make them six by acting as the sixth rak’ah, and if he has already completed the prayer, these two prostrations will be a cause of disgrace and humiliation for Satan.”
➋ Narrated from Abdul Rahman ibn Awf رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
إذا شك أحـدكـم فـي صـلاتــه فلم يدر واحدة صلى أم ثنتين فليجعلها واحدة وإذا لم يدر ثنتين صلى أم ثلاثا فليجعلها ثنتين وإذا لم يدر أثلاثا صلى أم أربعا فليجعلها ثلاثا ثم ليسجد إذا فرغ من صلاته وهو جالس قبل أن يسلم سجدتين
“If any of you doubts in his prayer whether he has prayed one rak’ah or two, he should consider his prayer as one rak’ah; if he doubts whether he has prayed two or three, he should consider it two; and if he doubts whether he has prayed three or four, he should consider it three. Then when he finishes his prayer, before giving salam, he should perform two prostrations of forgetfulness while sitting.”
➌ Narrated from Abdullah ibn Buhaina رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم led us in a two-rak’ah prayer and stood up without sitting for the middle tashahhud. The people stood with him. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was about to complete his prayer, we waited for his salam:
كبر قبل التسليم فسجد سجدتين و هو جالس ثم سلم
“He said takbir before giving salam, performed two prostrations while sitting, then gave salam.”
Hadiths mentioning prostrations after the salam include:
➊ Narrated from Abdul Rahman ibn Awf رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed Asr and after three rak’ahs gave salam, then entered his house. The narration states:
فصلى ركعة ثم سلم ثم سجد سجدتين ثم سلم
“He prayed one rak’ah, gave salam, then performed two prostrations, and then gave salam again.”
➋ Narrated from Ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed five rak’ahs of Dhuhr. Someone asked if there was an addition in the prayer. He said, “No, but what is the matter?” They said, “You prayed five rak’ahs.”
فسجد سجدتين بعد ما سلم
“So he performed two prostrations after the salam.”
➌ Narrated from Ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
وإذا شك أحدكم فى صلاته فليتحر الصواب فليتم عليه ثم ليسلم ثم ليسجد سجدتين
“And when any of you doubts in his prayer, he should complete it with the intention of correctness, then give salam, and then perform two prostrations.”
➍ Narrated from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه in the Hadith of Dhul-Yadain that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed prostrations after the salam, as it contains the words:
فصلي ماترك ثم سلم ثم كبر وسجد
“He prayed the abandoned prayer, then gave salam, then said takbir and performed prostrations.”
➎ Narrated from Thawban رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
لكل سهو سجدتان بعد ما يسلم
“For every forgetfulness, there are two prostrations after the salam.”
Scholars differ on this issue.
(Hanafis) All types of prostrations of forgetfulness are performed after the salam. Imam Nakha’i, Imam Thawri, Imam Hasan, and Umar ibn Abdul Aziz رضي الله عنهم agree with this.
(Shafi’is) All prostrations are performed before the salam. Imam Makhool, Imam Zahri, Imam Awza’i, and Imam Laith also hold this view.
(Malikis) In case of addition in prayer, prostrations are after the salam; in case of omission, before the salam. Imam Abu Thawr, Imam Muzani, and according to one opinion Imam Shafi’i also hold this view.
(Ahmad) Regarding prostrations of forgetfulness, act upon whatever is reported in the hadiths, and for cases not mentioned in hadith, perform prostrations before the salam.
(Zahiris, Ibn Hazm رحمه الله) Except for two cases, in all other cases prostrations are performed after the salam:
➊ When a person stands up without sitting for tashahhud after two rak’ahs.
➋ When a person doubts whether he has prayed three or four rak’ahs.
Some scholars hold that the forgetful person has the choice to perform the prostrations either before or after the salam.
(Ibn Hajar رحمه الله) He considered Imam Ahmad’s opinion the most just among all schools.
(Nawawi رحمه الله) Imam Malik’s school is the strongest, followed by the Shafi’i school.
(Preferred) Both before and after are permissible, but it is better to follow the method mentioned in the hadith related to the specific forgetfulness.
(Shawkani رحمه الله) Prefers this view.
(Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri رحمه الله) Supports this view.
(Siddiq Hasan Khan رحمه الله) Both before and after the salam are permissible.
With Takbeer-e-Tahreema, Tashahhud, and Salaam
As mentioned in the Hadith of Dhul-Yadain:
ثم كبر وسجد ثم سلم
“Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said Takbeer and performed the prostrations, then gave the Salam.”
Furthermore, it should be noted that no authentic narration mentions Tashahhud, and those narrations which do mention it are not reliable. Some of these are as follows:
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى بهم فسها فسجد سجدتين ثم تشهد ثم سلم
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) led them in prayer and then forgot, so he performed two prostrations, then recited Tashahhud, and then gave Salam.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم تشهد بعد أن رفع رأسه من سجدتي السهو
“After rising from the two prostrations of forgetfulness, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited Tashahhud.”
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
تم تشهدت أيضا ثم تسلم
“Then you recite Tashahhud like this and then give Salam.”
➍ In Mu’jam Tabarani, it is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
تشهدي وانصر فى ثم اسجدي ثم تشهدي
“So recite Tashahhud and give Salam, then perform the prostrations of forgetfulness, then recite Tashahhud.”
(Nawawi) The correct view in our religion is that such a person should only give Salam and not recite Tashahhud.
(Ibn Hazm) Saying Takbeer for each of the two prostrations of forgetfulness and then reciting Tashahhud followed by Salam is preferable, but if one confines oneself to only the two prostrations, that will suffice.
Sujud Sahw has been legislated due to forgetting to perform a Sunnah act.
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لكل سهو سجدتان
“There are two prostrations for every forgetfulness.”
Besides the prescribed Sunnah acts, these prostrations are also necessary for missing any obligatory act, and this has been established from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Bahinah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) omitted the middle Tashahhud and then performed two prostrations at the end.
➋ In the hadith of Dhul-Yadain, it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) forgot to pray two rak’ahs, so after completing them, he performed the prostrations.
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) forgot one rak’ah of Asr prayer, then he prayed that rak’ah and performed the prostrations.
➍ Since these prostrations cause humiliation and disgrace for Satan, as mentioned in the hadith:
كانتا ترغيما للشيطان
Therefore, it is better if these prostrations are performed even for missing every prescribed Sunnah act.
If one prays one extra rak’ah due to forgetfulness or mistake
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
صلى الظهر خمسا
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed five rak’ahs of Zuhr (by mistake).”
But when he became aware of it, he performed prostrations of forgetfulness.
(The majority) say that if a person prays five rak’ahs by mistake and does not sit in the fourth rak’ah, his prayer will not be invalid.
(Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him), Sufyan al-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him)) say that if he does not sit in the fourth rak’ah, his prayer becomes invalid. Furthermore, Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) states that if he sat in the fourth rak’ah and then prayed the fifth, he should combine one more rak’ah with it; these two rak’ahs will count as voluntary (nafl) prayers for him.
Due to doubt about the number of rak’ahs
As narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) in a hadith:
إذا شك أحدكم فليطرح الشك وليين على ما استيقن ثم ليسجد سجدتين
“When any one of you has doubt during the prayer, he should ignore the doubt and base his prayer on what he is certain of, then perform the prostration.”
(The majority, Malik, Shafi’i, Ahmad) When the worshiper doubts the number of rak’ahs, he should base the prayer on the lesser number because it is more likely to be certain.
(Abu Hanifa) Such a person should think very carefully; if the dominant assumption is one side, he should act upon it, otherwise, if both sides are equal, he should base it on the lesser number.
And from Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) there is a narration that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إذا شك أحدكم فقام فى الركعتين فاستتم قائما فليمض ولا يعود وليسجد سجدتين فإن لم يستتم قائما فليجلس ولا سهو عليه
“When any one of you has doubt and he has not stood straight in two rak’ahs (and then remembers), he should sit down; in this case, there are no prostrations of forgetfulness upon him.”
When the Imam performs Sajdah Sahw, the followers should also follow him accordingly.
➊ There is a Prophetic Hadith:
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم به
“The Imam is appointed so that he may be followed.”
➋ The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, also performed prostration with the Prophet ﷺ as narrated from Hazrat Ibn Buhaina, may Allah be pleased with him, in a Hadith that when the Prophet ﷺ performed the prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdat al-Sahw):
وسجدهما الناس معه
“People also performed these prostrations with him.”
(Shawkani) (From this it is understood that) the follower (Muqtadi) also performs the prostrations of forgetfulness with the Imam.
(Ibn Hazm) Performing Sajdat al-Sahw with the Imam is obligatory upon the followers except if someone has missed a Rak’ah.
◈ From a narration reported from Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إن الإمام يكفي من ورائه فإن سها الإمام فعليه سجدتا السهو وعلى من وراءه أن يسجدوا معه وإن سها أحد ممن خلفه فليس عليه أن يسجد والإمام يكفيه
“Indeed, the Imam suffices for the followers. If the Imam forgets, then it is obligatory for him to perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness, and it is also obligatory for his followers to perform the prostrations with him. But if any of the followers forgets, then it is not obligatory for him to perform the prostrations, for the Imam suffices for him.” This narration is weak and not reliable.
This is the reason why there is a difference of opinion when a follower forgets behind the Imam regarding Sajdat al-Sahw.
(Shafi’i, Hanafi) The follower will perform the prostrations for the Imam’s forgetfulness but will not perform prostrations for his own forgetfulness.
(Ibn Hazm) When the forgetfulness is from the follower and not from the Imam, then it is obligatory for the follower to perform Sajdat al-Sahw, just as if he were praying alone or as an Imam, he would have to perform Sajdat al-Sahw. The evidence is, as we have just mentioned, that whoever makes a mistake in prayer, the Prophet ﷺ ordered him to perform Sajdat al-Sahw:
فمن زاد أو نقص فليسجد سجدتين
For this, the Prophet ﷺ did not specify whether it was for the Imam or the follower, therefore such specification is not permissible.
(Shawkani) Due to the generality of the evidences, it is obligatory for the follower to perform the prostrations for his own forgetfulness.
(Preferred) The position of Imam Ibn Hazm is closer to the Hadith.
If there are more mistakes, will there be more prostrations?
If there are more mistakes, there will not be more prostrations because although it is possible for any worshipper, neither is this practice proven from the Prophet ﷺ nor is it narrated from any companion that they performed prostrations repeatedly due to repeated mistakes, as:
Imam Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) also preferred this view.
Remembrances of prostration of forgetfulness
No specific supplication or remembrance is proven from the Prophet ﷺ during the prostration of forgetfulness.
