10 Authentic Rulings on Sujūd al-Sahw According to the Sunnah

10 Clear Rulings on Sujūd al-Sahw According to Authentic Hadith

① Forgetting the Number of Rak‘ahs due to Shayṭān’s Whisper​

Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"When you pray, Shayṭān comes to you and confuses you until you do not know how many rak‘ahs you have prayed. If that happens, perform two prostrations while sitting."
(Bukhārī: 1232; Muslim: 572)

② General Rule: Two Prostrations After Salām for Any Forgetfulness​

Thawbān رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"For every forgetfulness there are two prostrations after salām."
(Abu Dawud: 1038 — Hasan)

③ Doubt Between Three or Four Rak‘ahs​

Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"If any of you doubts whether he prayed three or four, let him leave the doubt and build on what he is certain of. Then make two prostrations before salām..."
(Muslim: 571)

④ Doubt Between One or Two Rak‘ahs​

‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ instructed:


"If one doubts between one and two rak‘ahs, consider it one, complete the prayer, and make two prostrations before salām..."
(Tirmidhī: 398 — Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ)

⑤ Missing the First Tashahhud (Qa‘dah Ūlā)​

‘Abdullāh ibn Buhaynah رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ stood up after two rak‘ahs in Ẓuhr without sitting for tashahhud, and after completing the prayer, he made two prostrations before salām.
(Bukhārī: 829; Muslim: 570)

⑥ Standing Fully After Missing Tashahhud​

Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"If one stands after two rak‘ahs without sitting for tashahhud and has not yet fully stood, let him sit; but if fully standing, let him not sit and make two prostrations before salām."
(Abu Dawud: 1036 — Ṣaḥīḥ)

⑦ Speaking After Salām Due to Forgetfulness​

‘Imrān ibn Ḥuṣayn رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ prayed ‘Aṣr with only three rak‘ahs, then went home. Upon being informed, he returned, prayed one rak‘ah, then made two prostrations after salām.
(Muslim: 574)

⑧ Ending at Two Rak‘ahs in a Four-Rak‘ah Prayer​

Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ prayed two rak‘ahs of Ẓuhr or ‘Aṣr and gave salām. Dhū al-Yadayn reminded him. He prayed the remaining rak‘ahs, then made two prostrations after salām.
(Bukhārī: 482; Muslim: 573)

⑨ Praying Five Rak‘ahs by Mistake​

Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ prayed five rak‘ahs in Ẓuhr. When informed, he made two prostrations after salām and said:


"I am only a human being like you; I forget as you forget. So remind me if I forget."
(Bukhārī: 401; Muslim: 572)

⑩ Method of Sujūd al-Sahw​

• After the final tashahhud, say "Allāhu Akbar", go into sujūd.
• Sit between the two prostrations, then perform the second sujūd.
• After this, give salām.
• Sujūd al-sahw may be before or after salām, depending on the situation, as shown in the above narrations.

Important Notes:

• There is no authentic proof for giving salām only to one side, then making sujūd, then reading tashahhud again before salām.
• Both before-salām and after-salām sujūd are Sunnah depending on the case.