Three Authentic Methods of Sajdah Sahw and Their Rulings in Islam

First Method:

✔ The worshipper should complete the prayer, then perform two prostrations before giving the salam, and then give the salam of the prayer.

Example: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Buhaynah al-Asadi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ stood up in the Zuhr prayer (out of forgetfulness) without sitting for the middle tashahhud. When he completed the prayer:

سجد سجدتین یکبّر فی کلّ سجدۃ وہو جالس قبل أن یّسلّم وسجدہما النّاس معہ مکان ما نسی من الجلوس۔

“(In place of the forgotten tashahhud) he performed two prostrations while seated, before the salam, and the people also prostrated with him.”

Second narration: Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

If any one of you is in doubt during prayer about whether he has prayed three or four rak’ahs, he should discard the doubt and act upon certainty,

ثمّ یسجد سجدتین قبل أن یسلّم۔

“(then perform two prostrations before the salam). If he has (by mistake) prayed five rak’ahs, those two (prostrations) will make his prayer an even number; and if he had prayed one rak’ah to complete four, then those two (prostrations) are a humiliation for Satan.”

Imam Makhul al-Shami, a Tabi’i, and Imam Ahl al-Sunnah al-Zuhri say:

سجدتان قبل أن یسلّم۔

“There are two prostrations before the salam.”

Second Method:

✔ Perform two prostrations after the salam, then give the salam again.

Example: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ led the prayer. Ibrahim (the narrator of the hadith) says that he does not know whether the Prophet ﷺ (out of forgetfulness in the prayer) decreased or increased. When he gave the salam, it was said:

O Messenger of Allah! Has a new ruling come regarding the prayer? He said, “What is it?” The people said, “You prayed such and such.” Upon this he folded his blessed legs, turned his noble face towards the qiblah,

وسجد سجدتین، ثمّ سلّم۔

“and performed two prostrations, then gave the salam.” When he turned towards us, he said: If a new ruling had come regarding the prayer, I would have informed you. But I am a human being, just as you forget, I also forget. When I forget, remind me. When any one of you is in doubt during prayer, let him reflect for accuracy and complete his prayer upon that,

ثمّ یسلّم، ثمّ یسجد سجدتین۔

“then give the salam, then perform two prostrations.”

Second narration: Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the noble Messenger ﷺ led the Asr prayer. After three rak’ahs he gave the salam and then went into his house. A man named Kharbaq, who had long hands, stood up and said:

O Prophet of Allah! (He mentioned to him what he had done.) The Prophet ﷺ came out angrily, dragging his cloak, and said, “Is he speaking the truth?” The people said, “Yes!” Upon this he prayed one rak’ah, then gave the salam,

ثمّ سجد سجدتین، ثمّ سلّم۔

“then performed two prostrations, then gave the salam.”

Further clarification: Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding sajdah al-sahw:

یسلّم، ثمّ یسجد، ثمّ یسلّم۔

“Give the salam, then prostrate, then give the salam.”

Third Method:

✔ Complete the prayer, perform two prostrations after the salam, then recite the tashahhud, then give the salam, as narrated from Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him):

انّ النّبیّ صلّی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلّم صلّی بھم ، فسہا ، فسجد سجدتین ، ثمّ تشہّد ، ثمّ سلّم ۔

“The Prophet ﷺ led them in prayer; he forgot, (after giving the salam) he performed two prostrations, then sat for the tashahhud, then gave the salam.”

Views of the Muhaddithin:

• Imam al-Tirmidhi called it “Hasan Gharib Sahih”.
• Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (1062) called it “Sahih”.
• Imam Ibn Hibban (2670, 2672) and Imam al-Hakim (1/323) called it “Sahih” on the condition of Bukhari and Muslim.
• Hafiz al-Dhahabi agreed with them.

The addition “Thumma tashahhud”:

• These words have been narrated by اشعث بن عبدالملک الحرانی, a student of Muhammad bin Sirin.
• He is “Thiqah” (reliable), therefore this addition is preserved.

Statement of Ibn Sirin:

لم أسمع فی التّشہّد وأحبّ الیّ أن یتشہّد ۔“I have not heard anything about the tashahhud; sitting for the tashahhud is more beloved to me.”(Sunan Abi Dawud: 1010)

This does not cause weakness in that narration; rather it is from the category of ”نَسِیَ بعد ما حدّث”.

Statements of the Imams:

• Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (al-Awsat: 3/317)
• Imam al-Bayhaqi (2/355)
• Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr (al-Tamhid: 10/209)

It is not correct for these scholars to say that the words “ثم تشہد” are not established.

Clarification:

[According to the majority of Ahl al-Hadith scholars, the correct position is that the words “Thumma tashahhud” are shadh (anomalous). Therefore this third method is in reality the same as what was stated in the second method: that two prostrations are performed after the salam and then the salam is given again.

]

Benefit No. 1: The Hadith of Ibn Mas’ud

Defect: Mursal narration

• Abu Ubaydah did not hear (narrate directly) from his father (Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him).

Statements of the Muhaddithin:

• Hafiz Ibn Hajar:

  والرّاجح أنّہ لا یصحّ سماعہ من أبیہ“The preferred view is that Abu Ubaydah’s hearing from his father is not established as correct.”

  Reference: (al-Taqrib: 8231)

  He also says:

  فانّہ عند الأکثر لم یسمع من أبیہ ۔

  “According to most (muhaddithin), Abu Ubaydah did not hear from his father.”

  Reference: (Muwafaqat al-Khabr al-Khabr: 1/364)
• Imam Ibn al-Mundhir:

  الخبر غیر ثابت ۔“This narration is not established.”

  Reference: (al-Awsat: 3/317)
• Imam al-Bayhaqi:

  وہذا غیر قویّ ومختلف فی رفعہ ومتنہ ۔

  Reference: (al-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Bayhaqi: 2/356)

Benefit No. 2: The Hadith of Mughirah bin Shu’bah

Defect: Weak chain

• Narrator: Muhammad bin Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Layla
• According to the majority, he is “Da’if” (weak) and “Sayyi’ al-hifz” (poor memory).

Statements of the Muhaddithin:

• Hafiz Ibn Kathir:

  سیّیئ الحفظ ، لا یحتجّ بہ عند أکثرہم ۔

  Reference: (Tuhfat al-Talib: 345)
• Hafiz al-Bayhaqi:

  وہٰذا ینفرد بہ ابن أبی لیلیٰ ہٰذا ، ولا حجّۃ فیما ینفرد بہ لسوء حفظہ وکثرۃ خطئہ فی الرّوایات۔

  Reference: (Ma’rifat al-Sunan wal-Athar: 3/282)

Statements of Jurists and Tabi’in:

• Imam Ibn Sirin (Sunan Abi Dawud: 1010; its chain is Sahih)
• Imam al-Shafi’i (al-Umm: 1/130)
• Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (Masa’il Ahmad li-Abi Dawud: 53)
• Imam Ibrahim al-Nakha’i (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/31; its chain is Sahih)
• Hakam bin Utaybah
• Imam Hammad bin Abi Sulayman (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah)

Summary:

This article presents the three authentic methods of Sajdah al-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) that are performed in prayer when a mistake or lapse occurs:

• First method: After completing the prayer, two prostrations are performed before the salam.
• Second method: After completing the prayer and giving the salam, two prostrations are performed, and then the salam is given again.
• Third method: Two prostrations are performed, then after reciting the tashahhud, the salam is given again.

Each method is explained in light of the ahadith, the statements of the muhaddithin, and their grades, and the authenticity of the narrations is also discussed.