✿ Original Author: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah)
✿ Edited with Headings and Structured Presentation for Clarity
✔ Example from Hadith:
Narrated by Abdullah bin Buhaynah al-Asadi رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Bukhari: 1/164, Hadith: 1230; Sahih Muslim: 1/211, Hadith: 580)
The Prophet ﷺ stood up for a rak’ah without reciting the middle Tashahhud, and upon completing the prayer, he performed two prostrations before Taslim.
✔ Supporting Hadith:
Narrated by Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Muslim: 1/211, Hadith: 571)
When unsure about the number of rak‘ahs, one should act upon certainty and perform two prostrations before Taslim.
✔ Scholars' View:
Imam Mak‘hool and al-Zuhri said:
Arabic text retained
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/30 — Hasan chain)
✔ Example from Hadith:
Narrated by Abdullah bin Mas‘ood رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Bukhari: 1/58, Hadith: 601)
When the Prophet ﷺ was reminded of a mistake, he performed two prostrations after Taslim, then concluded with another Taslim.
✔ Supporting Hadith:
Narrated by Imran bin Husayn رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Muslim: 1/214, Hadith: 574)
The Prophet ﷺ prayed three rak‘ahs instead of four and rectified the mistake after Taslim by offering one more rak‘ah, followed by two prostrations and another Taslim.
✔ Companion's Statement:
Imran bin Husayn رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar by al-Tahawi: 1/442 — Hasan chain)
✔ Example from Hadith:
Narrated by Imran bin Husayn رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 1039; Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 395 — Authentic chain)
The Prophet ﷺ, after forgetting during prayer, performed two prostrations, then recited Tashahhud, and then said the concluding Taslim.
✔ Hadith Authentication:
✔ Clarification:
The words “ثم تشهد” are uniquely narrated by Ash‘ath bin Abdul Malik al-Harrani, who is trustworthy (thiqah). Hence, this addition is preserved and valid.
(Musnad Ahmad: 1/428–429; Sunan Abi Dawood: 1028)
➋ Hadith of Mughirah bin Shu‘bah
(Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 2/355)
✔ Scholars' View:
② After Taslim: Complete prayer → Say Taslim → Two prostrations → Say second Taslim
③ After Taslim with Tashahhud: Complete prayer → Say Taslim → Two prostrations → Tashahhud → Final Taslim
Each method is backed by authentic narrations, and differences arise based on circumstances of forgetfulness. The Prophet ﷺ practiced all three, indicating the flexibility and richness of the Sunnah.
✿ Edited with Headings and Structured Presentation for Clarity
❀ Introduction
The act of Sajdah Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) is legislated to rectify mistakes or forgetfulness during prayer. This article outlines three authentic methods of performing Sajdah Sahw, all supported by Hadith and scholarly consensus.✿ First Method:
This method involves completing the prayer, performing two prostrations before the final Taslim, and then concluding the prayer with Taslim.✔ Example from Hadith:
Narrated by Abdullah bin Buhaynah al-Asadi رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Bukhari: 1/164, Hadith: 1230; Sahih Muslim: 1/211, Hadith: 580)
The Prophet ﷺ stood up for a rak’ah without reciting the middle Tashahhud, and upon completing the prayer, he performed two prostrations before Taslim.
✔ Supporting Hadith:
Narrated by Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Muslim: 1/211, Hadith: 571)
When unsure about the number of rak‘ahs, one should act upon certainty and perform two prostrations before Taslim.
✔ Scholars' View:
Imam Mak‘hool and al-Zuhri said:
Arabic text retained
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/30 — Hasan chain)
✿ Second Method:
In this method, the individual says Taslim, then performs two prostrations, followed by a second Taslim.✔ Example from Hadith:
Narrated by Abdullah bin Mas‘ood رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Bukhari: 1/58, Hadith: 601)
When the Prophet ﷺ was reminded of a mistake, he performed two prostrations after Taslim, then concluded with another Taslim.
✔ Supporting Hadith:
Narrated by Imran bin Husayn رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sahih Muslim: 1/214, Hadith: 574)
The Prophet ﷺ prayed three rak‘ahs instead of four and rectified the mistake after Taslim by offering one more rak‘ah, followed by two prostrations and another Taslim.
✔ Companion's Statement:
Imran bin Husayn رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar by al-Tahawi: 1/442 — Hasan chain)
✿ Third Method:
After completing the prayer and saying Taslim, the individual performs two prostrations, then sits for Tashahhud, and concludes with another Taslim.✔ Example from Hadith:
Narrated by Imran bin Husayn رضي الله عنه:
Arabic text retained
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 1039; Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 395 — Authentic chain)
The Prophet ﷺ, after forgetting during prayer, performed two prostrations, then recited Tashahhud, and then said the concluding Taslim.
✔ Hadith Authentication:
- Imam al-Tirmidhi: “Hasan Gharib Sahih”
- Ibn Khuzaymah (1062): Sahih
- Ibn Hibban (2670, 2672), al-Hakim (1/323): Sahih according to Bukhari and Muslim’s conditions
- Hafiz al-Dhahabi: Agreed with al-Hakim
✔ Clarification:
The words “ثم تشهد” are uniquely narrated by Ash‘ath bin Abdul Malik al-Harrani, who is trustworthy (thiqah). Hence, this addition is preserved and valid.
❀ Clarifications on Weak Narrations
➊ Hadith of Ibn Mas‘ood(Musnad Ahmad: 1/428–429; Sunan Abi Dawood: 1028)
- Abu ‘Ubaydah did not hear from his father Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood.
- Ibn Hajar: Most scholars deny his direct narration.
- Imam Ibn al-Mundhir: The report is not established.
- Al-Bayhaqi: Weak and disputed in both chain and text.
➋ Hadith of Mughirah bin Shu‘bah
(Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 2/355)
- Contains Muhammad bin Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Layla, a weak narrator known for poor memory.
✔ Scholars' View:
- Ibn Kathir: Weak in memory; his solitary narrations are not authoritative.
- Al-Bayhaqi: His narrations alone are not proof due to errors.
❀ Views of Notable Scholars
- Ibn Sireen: Preferred Tashahhud after Sujood Sahw.
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 1010 — Authentic chain) - Imam al-Shafi‘i, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ibrahim al-Nakha‘i, Hakam bin ‘Utaybah, Hammad bin Abi Sulayman: All permitted or practiced the method including Tashahhud after Sujood Sahw.
(Multiple references: al-Umm, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah)
❀ Summary of Three Valid Methods
① Before Taslim: Complete prayer → Two prostrations → Say Taslim② After Taslim: Complete prayer → Say Taslim → Two prostrations → Say second Taslim
③ After Taslim with Tashahhud: Complete prayer → Say Taslim → Two prostrations → Tashahhud → Final Taslim
Each method is backed by authentic narrations, and differences arise based on circumstances of forgetfulness. The Prophet ﷺ practiced all three, indicating the flexibility and richness of the Sunnah.