The prostration of forgetfulness (sajdah sahw)
Two extra prostrations put right specific mistakes in prayer: the five general causes, the particular cases, and how to act on a doubt about your number of units (rak'ahs).
Sometimes people make small mistakes while praying, like forgetting to sit when they should, or standing up too soon. Allah has given an easy way to fix this: two extra sajdahs at the end of the prayer, called sajdah sahw.
If a mistake happens during prayer, doing two extra sajdahs near the end puts it right. Doing these two sajdahs is wajib whenever one of the mistakes below happens.
12How to do sajdah sahw
- Finish the prayer as normal up to reciting the Tashahhud in the final sitting.
- Turn your head to the right and say salam, just once.
- Go down and do two sajdahs.
- Sit up again and recite the Tashahhud, then Durood and the closing duas.
- Finish the prayer by saying salam to both sides, as usual.
| What happened | Extra sajdahs needed? |
|---|---|
| You read a surah before Al-Fatihah by mistake | Yes |
| You said a part out loud that should be silent, or the other way round | Yes |
| You forgot to sit between two sajdahs (Jalsah) or after ruku (Qaumah) | Yes |
| In the last two rak'ahs of a fard prayer, you read an extra surah after Al-Fatihah by mistake | No: nothing extra needed |
| You forgot to sit after two rak'ahs, but you already stood up all the way | Yes, at the end: don't go back down to sit |
| You forgot to sit after two rak'ahs, but you were still low, close to sitting | No: just sit down normally |
| You said Durood in the first sitting of a 3 or 4 rak'ah prayer, by mistake | Yes |
There are more cases like these; a teacher can help with ones not shown here.
In a prayer of three or four rak'ahs, you do not say Durood in the first sitting. After the Tashahhud you stand straight up for the third rak'ah. If you say Durood there without meaning to, sajdah sahw is needed at the end.
1If a mistake occurs during prayer, two extra prostrations (sajdah) performed near the end put it right; performing them is wajib.
12How sajdah sahw is performed
- After reciting Tashahhud in the final sitting, turn the head to the right for salam, once.
- Perform two prostrations.
- Sit again and recite Tashahhud, Durood, and the closing supplications.
- End the prayer with salam to both sides.
Sajdah sahw becomes obligatory in five situations: performing an act earlier than its proper place (taqdim-e-rukn); delaying an act beyond its proper place (ta'kheer-e-rukn); repeating a pillar of the prayer (i'ada-e-rukn); omitting a wajib act (tark-e-wajib); or altering a wajib act (taghyeer-e-wajib).
| Situation | Sajdah sahw required? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Reciting a surah or verse before al-Fatihah | Yes | Continue the prayer; perform sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Repeating al-Fatihah in the first two rak'ahs of a fard prayer | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Falling silent after al-Fatihah or the surah for as long as a pillar takes | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Falling silent in the first sitting, after Tashahhud, for the time it takes to say Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Reciting Durood after the Tashahhud in the first sitting of a prayer of three or four rak'ahs | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Reciting Qur'an during ruku, sujood, qaumah, jalsah, or while sitting | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Mistakenly reciting al-Fatihah or Tashahhud twice in the first sitting | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Reciting silently where aloud recitation is required, or aloud where silent is required | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Mistakenly reciting Tashahhud while standing | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Skipping qaumah (standing after ruku) or jalsah (sitting between the two sajdahs) | Yes | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| A surah mistakenly recited after al-Fatihah in the last rak'ahs of a fard prayer | No | No correction needed. |
| Al-Fatihah or the surah forgotten in rak'ah 1 or 2, remembered during or after ruku | Yes | Stand back up, recite the missed portion, repeat ruku, then complete the prayer with sajdah sahw. |
| Only one sajdah performed in a rak'ah, the second forgotten, remembered before or after Tashahhud | Yes | Perform the missed sajdah whenever remembered; if after Tashahhud, repeat the Tashahhud; then sajdah sahw. |
| Ruku skipped, sujood performed directly, noticed before the next rak'ah | Yes | Go back and perform ruku, then complete the sujood, stand for the next rak'ah, then sajdah sahw. |
| First sitting forgotten, already stood fully or nearly so | Yes | Do not return to sitting; perform sajdah sahw at the end. |
| First sitting forgotten, still closer to sitting than standing | No | Sit down normally; no correction needed. |
Further edge cases (the final sitting forgotten, or an extra rak'ah mistakenly begun) are covered below.
In a prayer of three rak'ahs or more, Durood is not recited after the Tashahhud of the first sitting, great as its virtue is elsewhere. Reciting it there unintentionally makes sajdah sahw necessary.
1If someone doubts how many rak'ahs they have prayed and such doubt is not a regular occurrence for them, they must restart the prayer. If the doubt is a regular occurrence, they act on their stronger assumption; with no stronger assumption, they take the lower number: unsure between the first and second, treat it as the first; between the second and third, the second; between the third and fourth, the third. Doubt about whether a qa'dah (sitting) has been performed is resolved by performing it, so that no obligatory sitting is missed. Sajdah sahw is performed at the end in every such case.
123456A mistake occurring during prayer is remedied by two additional sajdahs performed near its close; their performance is wājib, not farḍ; the prayer is not invalidated by their omission, though it is left incomplete.
12The method of sajdah sahw
- After the Tashahhud of the qaʿdah akhīrah, turn the head to the right and give salām once, only.
- Perform two sajdahs.
- Sit again, and recite the Tashahhud, Durūd, and the closing duʿās afresh.
- Close the prayer with salām to both sides, as usual.
Sajdah sahw is obligatory on five general grounds: taqdīm-e-rukn (performing a pillar before its due place), taʾkhīr-e-rukn (delaying a pillar past its due place), iʿādah-e-rukn (repeating a pillar), tark-e-wājib (omitting a wājib act), and taghyīr-e-wājib (altering a wājib act). Each specific case below is an instance of one of these five.
| Situation | Sajdah sahw? | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| A surah or verse recited before al-Fātiḥah | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Al-Fātiḥah repeated in the first two rakʿahs of a farḍ prayer | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Silence held after al-Fātiḥah or the surah for the duration of a rukn | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Silence held in the first qaʿdah, after Tashahhud, for the time of Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Durūd recited after the Tashahhud in the first qaʿdah of a prayer of three or four rakʿahs | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Qurʼān recited during rukūʿ, sujūd, qawmah, jalsah, or while seated | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Al-Fātiḥah or Tashahhud mistakenly repeated in the first qaʿdah | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Silent recitation where jahr (aloud) is due, or jahr where silent recitation is due | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Tashahhud mistakenly recited while standing | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| Qawmah or jalsah between the two sajdahs omitted | Required | Continue; sajdah sahw at the end. |
| A surah mistakenly recited after al-Fātiḥah in the last rakʿahs of a farḍ prayer | Not required | No correction needed; this recitation, though extra, does not itself trigger sajdah sahw here. |
| Al-Fātiḥah or the surah forgotten in rakʿah 1 or 2, recalled during or after rukūʿ | Required | Rise again, complete the recitation, repeat the rukūʿ, then close with sajdah sahw. |
| Only one sajdah performed in a rakʿah, the second forgotten and recalled before or after Tashahhud | Required | Perform the missed sajdah on recollection; if recollection comes after Tashahhud, repeat the Tashahhud; then sajdah sahw. |
| Rukūʿ omitted, sujūd performed directly, error caught before the next rakʿah | Required | Return and perform rukūʿ, complete the sujūd, rise for the next rakʿah, then sajdah sahw. |
| First qaʿdah forgotten, already risen fully or nearer to standing than sitting | Required | Do not return to sitting; sajdah sahw at the close only. |
| First qaʿdah forgotten, still nearer to sitting than to standing | Not required | Return to sitting; no sajdah sahw follows from this alone. |
The qaʿdah akhīrah forgotten, and an extra rakʿah mistakenly begun after it, are treated as distinguishable edge cases below, since one branch of each invalidates the prayer as prayed unless corrected in a specific way.
In a prayer of three rakʿahs or more, Durūd is not recited after the Tashahhud of the qaʿdah ūlā, notwithstanding its immense virtue in every other place. Reciting it there unintentionally necessitates sajdah sahw.
1A non-habitual doubt over the count of rakʿahs prayed requires restarting the prayer. A habitual doubt is instead resolved by the stronger of two assumptions (ghalabat al-ẓann); absent a stronger assumption, the lower count governs: between the first and second rakʿah, treat it as the first; between the second and third, the second; between the third and fourth, the third. A doubt over whether a qaʿdah has been performed is resolved in favour of performing it, so that no obligatory or wājib sitting is missed. Sajdah sahw closes the prayer in every such case, habitual or not.
123456This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 755 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) 18. Explanation of Sajda-e-Sahw (Prostration of Forgetfulness)
- If a mistake occurs during prayer, two extra prostrations (sajda) are performed as a remedy. This is obligatory.
- After reciting Tashahhud (sitting recitation) in the final sitting, turn your head to the right for Salam. Perform two prostrations. Sit again, recite Tashahhud, Durood, and supplications. End the prayer by Saying Salam to both sides.
- It becomes obligatory in five situations:
- Performing an act earlier than its proper place (Taqdeem-e-Rukn).
- Delaying an act beyond its proper place (Ta'kheer-e-Rukn).
- Repeating a pillar of prayer (I'ada-e-Rukn).
- Omitting a compulsory act (Tark-e-Wajib).
- Altering a compulsory act (Taghyeer-e-Wajib).
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Some Cases of Mistakes During Prayer and Their Rulings
(1) In the following cases, Sajda-e-Sahw becomes obligatory: reciting a Surah or a verse before Surah Al-Fatiha, repeating Surah Al-Fatiha in the first two units of a Fardh prayer, or remaining silent after Surah Al-Fatiha or another Surah for as long as it takes to perform a pillar of prayer. Similarly, if one remains silent in the first sitting after Tashahhud for the duration of reciting اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد, recites Quran during Rukoo, Sujood, Qaumah, Jalsah, or while sitting, mistakenly recites Surah Al-Fatiha or Tashahhud twice in the first sitting, recites quietly where aloud recitation is required (or vice versa), or mistakenly recites Tashahhud in standing posture, Sajda-e-Sahw is required. Additionally, skipping Qaumah or Jalsah between prostrations also necessitates Sajda-e-Sahw.
(2) If in the first or second unit of prayer, Surah Al-Fatiha or another Surah is forgotten and remembered during or after Rukoo, the person should stand back up, recite the missed portion, repeat Rukoo, and complete the prayer with Sajda-e-Sahw.
(3) If in the last units of a Fardh prayer, a Surah is mistakenly recited after Surah Al-Fatiha, Sajda-e-Sahw is not necessary.
(4) If in any unit, only one prostration is performed, and the second is forgotten but remembered before reciting Tashahhud in the final sitting, the person must complete the missed prostration, recite Tashahhud, and perform Sajda-e-Sahw. If the missed prostration is remembered after Tashahhud, it should still be performed, followed by a repetition of Tashahhud and Sajda-e-Sahw.
(5) If Rukoo is skipped, and the person directly performs Sujood, but the mistake is realized before starting the next unit, the person should immediately perform Rukoo, then complete Sujood, stand for the next unit, and finally perform Sajda-e-Sahw.
(6) If the first sitting is forgotten and the person has fully stood up or is close to standing, they should not return to sitting but perform Sajda-e-Sahw at the end. If they are closer to sitting, they may sit, and Sajda-e-Sahw will not be required.
(7) If the final sitting is forgotten, and the person stands up but realizes the mistake before performing Sujood, they should sit back down, recite Tashahhud, and perform Sajda-e-Sahw. However, if Sujood has already been performed in the standing posture, the prayer becomes invalid. In this case, the person has the option to add another unit to the prayer and then perform Sajda-e-Sahw.
(8) If someone mistakenly stands for an additional unit after the final sitting, such as standing for a fifth unit in Dhuhr after reciting Tashahhud, they should sit back down if no Sujood has been performed in the fifth unit. However, if Sujood has already been done, an additional unit must be added, making the first four units Fardh and the last two Nafl. In both situations, Sajda-e-Sahw must be performed.
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Doubts in Prayer and Their Rulings
(1) If someone doubts how many units (Rak’ahs) of prayer they have performed and such doubt is not habitual, they should restart the prayer. However, if the person often experiences such doubts, they should act on their strongest assumption. If there is no strong assumption, they should consider the lesser number. For example, if they are unsure whether it is the first or second Rak’ah, they should count it as the first; if unsure between the second or third, they should consider it the second; and if between the third or fourth, they should consider it the third. In cases of doubt regarding the sitting posture (Qa’dah), it should be performed to ensure that no obligatory or necessary sitting is missed. At the end of the prayer, they should perform Sajda-e-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness).
(2) If someone doubts after completing the prayer whether they performed it correctly or not, such doubt is disregarded, and the prayer is considered valid.
(3) If someone is uncertain whether they have performed the current prayer and the prayer time is still valid, they should perform the prayer. However, if the time has already passed, it is not obligatory to repeat it.
Terms on this page
Related
- The prostrations of forgetfulness (sahw), recitation (tilawah) and thanks (shukr) The prostration of forgetfulness that fixes a mistake in prayer, the prostration due on reciting a verse of prostration, and the prostration of gratitude.
- The obligatory acts of prayer (wajibat) The twelve necessary (wajib) acts of prayer: the Fatiha, the surah, order, stillness (tumaninah), the sittings, the testimony (tashahhud), recitation volume, the closing greeting (salam), the supplication (qunoot) and the Eid takbirs.
- The four categories of follower: on time (madrik), interrupted (lahiq), late (masbooq), and late and interrupted The four kinds of follower (muqtadi) depending on when they joined and whether they fell behind, and what each one must do to complete the prayer.
- Mistakes, forgetfulness and joining late in the Eid prayer What to do if one of the extra takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar) is said wrongly, forgotten or added to, and how to join the Eid prayer after the imam has already started.