Causes of Sujūd al-Sahw in Prayer and Detailed Rulings
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
On what grounds is sujūd al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) performed?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Sujūd al-sahw is generally performed for three main reasons:
Evidence:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb Naqḍ al-Aḥkām al-Bāṭilah, ḥadīth 1718)
Examples from the Sunnah:
This can occur in two ways:
(1) The mistake is realised before reaching the same position in the next rak‘ah:
Example:
If in the first rak‘ah, a person does only one sajdah and stands without the second sajdah or sitting in between, and during the recitation realises it, he should return, sit, perform the second sajdah, complete the prayer, then make sujūd al-sahw after salām.
(2) The mistake is realised after reaching the same position in the next rak‘ah:
Example:
If in the first rak‘ah, only one sajdah was done, and in the second rak‘ah, when sitting between the two sajdahs, he remembers, the second rak‘ah counts as the first. He must complete one more rak‘ah and then do sujūd al-sahw after salām.
If a wājib act is omitted:
Evidence:
When the Prophet ﷺ forgot the first tashahhud, he continued the prayer without returning, and made sujūd al-sahw before salām.
Two possibilities:
(1) One side is more likely (rājiḥ):
Example:
Doubting between the third and fourth rak‘ah, but thinking it is most likely the third — pray one more rak‘ah, give salām, then do sujūd al-sahw.
(2) Neither side is more likely (equal doubt):
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
On what grounds is sujūd al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) performed?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Sujūd al-sahw is generally performed for three main reasons:
➊ Addition in the Prayer
- If during the prayer an extra act such as an additional rukū‘, sajdah, standing, or sitting is performed, it is considered an addition.
- If the addition is done intentionally, the prayer becomes invalid because prayer must be offered exactly as prescribed by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Evidence:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb Naqḍ al-Aḥkām al-Bāṭilah, ḥadīth 1718)
- If the addition occurs by mistake, the prayer does not become invalid, but sujūd al-sahw is required at the end of the prayer.
Examples from the Sunnah:
- Ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ once prayed only two rak‘ahs of Ẓuhr or ‘Aṣr, then after being informed by the Companions, he completed the prayer and made two prostrations after salām. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 482)
- Ḥadīth of Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ once prayed five rak‘ahs for Ẓuhr. When informed, he sat facing the qiblah and made two prostrations. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 404)
➋ Omission in the Prayer
This can occur in two ways:
(1) The mistake is realised before reaching the same position in the next rak‘ah:
- The missing act should be performed immediately, then the rest of the prayer is completed.
- Sujūd al-sahw should be done after salām.
Example:
If in the first rak‘ah, a person does only one sajdah and stands without the second sajdah or sitting in between, and during the recitation realises it, he should return, sit, perform the second sajdah, complete the prayer, then make sujūd al-sahw after salām.
(2) The mistake is realised after reaching the same position in the next rak‘ah:
- The current rak‘ah becomes a replacement for the incomplete rak‘ah.
- One extra rak‘ah must be prayed, followed by sujūd al-sahw after salām.
Example:
If in the first rak‘ah, only one sajdah was done, and in the second rak‘ah, when sitting between the two sajdahs, he remembers, the second rak‘ah counts as the first. He must complete one more rak‘ah and then do sujūd al-sahw after salām.
If a wājib act is omitted:
- Example: Forgetting to say “Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā” in sajdah and remembering after rising.
- Continue the prayer and perform sujūd al-sahw before salām.
Evidence:
When the Prophet ﷺ forgot the first tashahhud, he continued the prayer without returning, and made sujūd al-sahw before salām.
➌ Doubt in the Prayer
Two possibilities:
(1) One side is more likely (rājiḥ):
- Follow the stronger assumption.
- Complete the prayer, then make sujūd al-sahw after salām.
Example:
Doubting between the third and fourth rak‘ah, but thinking it is most likely the third — pray one more rak‘ah, give salām, then do sujūd al-sahw.
(2) Neither side is more likely (equal doubt):
- Base the prayer on certainty (the lesser number).
- Complete the prayer, then make sujūd al-sahw before salām.
➍ When to Perform Sujūd al-Sahw — Before or After Salām?
- Before Salām:
◈ When a wājib is omitted.
◈ When doubt occurs with no dominant assumption. - After Salām:
◈ When there is an addition in the prayer.
◈ When doubt occurs but one side is more likely.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
