How to perform Sujood al-Sahw?
Sujood al-Sahw is a term used in Islamic prayer (salah) to refer to the
prostration of forgetfulness. It is performed when a mistake is made during the
prayer or if a person forgets to perform a required action during the prayer or if he is doubtful whether he missed something.
The ruling is the same
for the obligatory prayers and the voluntary
prayers except for Funeral Prayers, Sajdah al-Tilawah (Prostration of Recitation),
Sajdah al-Shukr (Prostration of Gratitude).
There are three scenarios
in which Sujood al-Sahw is required:
1. Adding something
extra
2. Missing something
essential
3. Being doubtful
about some essential part
In such cases, after
completing the prayer, the person performs two additional prostrations,
followed by the recitation of the Tashahhud and Taslim, as in the
regular prayer. This prostration of forgetfulness is performed to seek
forgiveness from Allah for any errors or omissions made during the prayer.
Sujood al-Sahw is not considered a part of the regular prayer, but rather an additional act of worship that is performed to
rectify mistakes made during the prayer. It is recommended for Muslims to
perform Sujood al-Sahw whenever they realize that they have made a mistake
during the prayer or have missed a required action.
Examples of Adding Something Extra
If
one intentionally adds an act of the same kind to the prayer, such as Qiyam
(standing), Qa’adah (sitting), Rukoo (bowing), or Sujood (prostrating),
it nullifies the prayer. If one adds something extra out of forgetfulness, he should
perform Sujood al-Sahw immediately after regular Taslim and then he
should say Tashahhud + Salat al-Nabi +Dua + Taslim again.
If
one adds one or more Rak’ah forgetfully, then whenever they remember
their mistake they should sit immediately for the last Tashhud and complete
the regular payer. Then he should perform Sujood al-Sahw as mentioned in
the last paragraph. If they realized their mistake shortly after Salam, they
should perform Sujood al-Sahw as mentioned in the last paragraph.
If
they realized their mistake after a long time or they have spoken something
irrelevant to prayers, then they should perform the prayer again.
Examples of Missing Something Essential
If someone
intentionally leaves out something from the prayer, from Arakan (Pillars
of Prayers) or Wajibat (Essentials of Prayer) they must repeat it, but
if they forget, they should perform Sujood al-Sahw (prostration of
forgetfulness). For example, if someone intentionally leaves out the Tashahhud,
they must repeat the prayer, but if they forget, they do not have to repeat it.
Such a person is required to perform Sujood al-Sahw after completing
regular tashahhud + Salat al-Nabi + Dua before regular Taslim.
If
someone forgets a pillar of prayer and he remembers it after starting to recite
in the next Rak’ah, then only the previous Rak’ah is considered
nullified, not the entire prayer. In this case, continue your regular
prayer without counting the previous Rak’ah. However, if they remember
the missed pillar before starting to recite in the next Rak’ah, they
should go back and perform it before continuing with their prayer. For instance,
if they remember the missed prostration before reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
in the second Rak’ah, they should go back and perform the missed prostration
before continuing with their prayer.
If he
forgets the bowing (Rukoo') and sits for the rest of the prayer, he
should perform the bowing as soon as he remembers it, along with what comes
after it. And if he remembers the one prostration (Sujood) after he has
stood up from it, he should return to it immediately and perform it, along with
what comes after it. Then he should perform Sujood al-Sahw after
completing his prayer before Taslim. In this case, If he, intentionally,
does not go back to perform the missed pillar of prayer, then his prayer is
invalidated.
If he
forgets only the first Tashahhud, whether alone or sitting for it as
well, and tries to stand up but remembers his mistake before standing erectly,
he must go back and perform it, bringing it with him unless he has completed
the standing position. The follower is obliged to follow the imam even if it is
after they have stood up and started reciting. If the imam has completed the
standing position but did not recite, then it is better for him not to go back
but if sits back nothing wrong with it, provided that he has not started recitation.
Examples of
Doubts
If
someone is unsure about the number of rak'ahs they have performed in their
prayer, they should base their decision on what they are certain of. In other
words, they should go with the lower number that they are sure of, in order to
avoid making any mistakes in their prayer. Moreover, if someone is
unsure whether he performed a specific essential part or not, he should build
on certainty and perform it immediately if possible by keeping the sequence intact,
otherwise, he should realize that he has missed the pillar and follow the
examples of missing something essential. In case of doubts, he should perform Sujood al-Sahw before Salam. If someone is doubtful about whether he should perform Sujood al-Sahw before or after Salam, he should do it before Salam.
In
Hanbali Madhab, there is no effect of his doubts after his salutation (salam),
and likewise for all other acts of worship, if he doubts about them after
completing them. However, if someone is unsure whether they did make the
prostration of forgetfulness or not, they should make the prostration
immediately.
The Obligation of Followers in Case of Forgetfulness
The
follower (Ma'mum/Muqtadi) is not obligated to perform the prostration
of forgetfulness unless his Imam forgets, then he performs it with him, whether
the Imam made a mistake during their prayer together or before catching Imam, and
whether the Imam prostrates before or after the Salam. If he stands up after
the Imam’s Salam, the follower (Ma'mum) should go back to perform the
prostration with him if he prostrated after Salam. But if he starts reciting, he should not go back.
If Masbooq
(one who catches Imam but misses one or more Rak’ah) makes some mistake
after Imam’s Salam, he should perform Sujood al-Sahw after making up his
missed prayer.
All the rulings mentioned above have
been taken from Al-Iqn’a by Musa ibn Ahmad al-Hajjawi al-Hanbali
Rahimahullah, though the wording and sequence of rulings are from the author of this
article.
What to Recite in Sujood al-Sahw?
Recite in Sujood al-Sahw, what you recite in regular Sujood.
Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’la
