Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (حفظه الله)
Question:
After performing Ẓuhr prayer, I remembered that I had only prayed three rakʿahs. Should I perform the fourth rakʿah and then prostrate for forgetfulness (sajdat al-sahw), or must I repeat the entire prayer?
Answer:
If the person praying realizes during or immediately after the prayer that they have left out a rakʿah or more, and they are still present in the prayer area or in the mosque, and not more than four or five minutes have elapsed, then they should simply complete the missing rakʿah and perform sajdat al-sahw.
However, if they remember after approximately half an hour or after leaving the mosque, then due to the discontinuity of the prayer, the original prayer becomes void, and the entire prayer must be repeated.
Question:
After performing Ẓuhr prayer, I remembered that I had only prayed three rakʿahs. Should I perform the fourth rakʿah and then prostrate for forgetfulness (sajdat al-sahw), or must I repeat the entire prayer?
Answer:
If the person praying realizes during or immediately after the prayer that they have left out a rakʿah or more, and they are still present in the prayer area or in the mosque, and not more than four or five minutes have elapsed, then they should simply complete the missing rakʿah and perform sajdat al-sahw.
However, if they remember after approximately half an hour or after leaving the mosque, then due to the discontinuity of the prayer, the original prayer becomes void, and the entire prayer must be repeated.
