Sujud al-Sahw — Prostrations of Forgetfulness: Correcting Errors in Prayer

When Is Sujud al-Sahw Required?

The scholars identify three categories of situations requiring sujud al-sahw:

1. Forgetting a wajib act of prayer: An act that is obligatory but not a rukn (essential pillar). Examples:

• Forgetting the first tashahhud (sitting after the 2nd rak’at)
• Forgetting the recitation of Surah al-Fatiha in some madhabs
• Forgetting to recite Subhana Rabbiya al-‘Azim in ruku’

2. Adding a prohibited act unintentionally: Standing when you should be sitting, sitting when you should be standing, adding a rak’at by mistake.

3. Doubt about the number of rak’at: Uncertainty about whether you prayed 2 or 3 rak’at, 3 or 4, etc.

The Timing — Before or After Salam?

This is the key madhab divergence:

Hanafi position: Sujud al-Sahw is always after salam — you give the first salam (to the right), then perform two prostrations, then the second salam.

Shafi’i position: Sujud al-Sahw is always before salam — you prostrate before completing the prayer.

Maliki and Hanbali: The timing depends on the type of error:

• If caused by an addition: after salam
• If caused by an omission: before salam
• In doubt cases: before salam (Maliki); generally before salam (Hanbali)

How to Perform Sujud al-Sahw

The mechanics are simple — they mirror regular sujud:

1. (In the Hanafi method) Give the first salam (right side only)
2. Say Allahu Akbar and go into sujud
3. Perform the first prostration with the same tasbihat as regular sujud
4. Rise from sujud, sit briefly
5. Perform the second prostration
6. Rise and complete the tashahhud
7. Give the full salam (both sides)

The Principle of Building on Certainty

When in doubt about the number of rak’at:

• The Shafi’i and Hanbali principle: Yaqeen la yuzal bil-shakk (certainty is not removed by doubt) — assume the lesser number (what you are certain of) and complete from there
• The Hanafi principle: Try to resolve the doubt by thinking; if still unresolved, build on the lesser number. If this is a recurring doubt (waswas), build on the more likely number

After resolving with the lesser number and completing the prayer, perform sujud al-sahw.

What Does NOT Require Sujud al-Sahw

• Skipping a sunnah (non-wajib) act — no compensation needed
• Intentional additions or omissions — these invalidate the prayer entirely; sujud al-sahw does not repair intentional violations
• Errors in recitation beyond the faraidh level
• Making an error in the voluntary sunnah prayers (some scholars exempt these from the requirement)

See also: Understanding Namaz, Wudu, Fiqh Overview, Fiqh Madhabs, Qunut