The Islamic prayer, Salah (الصلاة), is the spiritual bedrock of a Muslim’s life. It is a direct communion with Allah, and performing it with proper focus (Khushu’) and adherence to its rules is paramount. However, as humans, we are prone to forgetfulness and mistakes, even in our most sacred acts of worship. This is where the wisdom and mercy of Islam shine through with the concept of Sujood as-Sahw (سجود السهو), the Prostration of Forgetfulness.
Sujood as-Sahw is a special set of two prostrations performed at the end of the prayer to rectify specific errors, ensuring the validity and completeness of our Salah. It’s a testament to Allah’s leniency, allowing us to amend our unintended slips and perfect our devotion.
What is Sujood as-Sahw?
Sujood as-Sahw literally means “prostration for forgetfulness.” It involves performing two extra prostrations either before or after the final salutations (Taslim) of the prayer. This act is specifically prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to compensate for certain types of errors made unintentionally during Salah.
It’s important to differentiate:
- Pillars (Arkan): If a Pillar is missed, the prayer is invalid. Sujood as-Sahw does not fix this; the missing Pillar (and subsequent actions) must be performed, or the Rakah/prayer repeated.
- Obligations (Waajibaat): If an Obligatory Act is missed due to forgetfulness, Sujood as-Sahw does compensate for it.
- Recommended Acts (Sunan): If a recommended act is missed, the prayer is still valid, and no Sujood as-Sahw is required (though some scholars recommend it for emphasis on Sunnah Mu’akkadah).
When is Sujood as-Sahw Required?
Sujood as-Sahw is primarily performed in three situations:
1. Adding to the Prayer (Az-Ziyadah – الزيادة)
This occurs when you accidentally perform an extra action that is part of the prayer.
- Examples: Performing an extra Rakah, an extra bowing (Ruku’), an extra prostration (Sujood), or an extra standing.
- Ruling: If you realize you’ve added an action during the prayer, you should immediately correct it (e.g., if you accidentally stood up for a fifth Rakah, sit down if you remember before Ruku’). If you realize after the prayer, or if the extra action became part of the prayer (e.g., you completed an extra Rakah), you perform Sujood as-Sahw after the Taslim.
2. Omitting a Part of the Prayer (An-Naqs – النقص)
This happens when you accidentally miss an essential part of the prayer (an Obligatory Act).
- Examples: Forgetting to recite the first Tashahhud, forgetting to say Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’la in prostration, or forgetting the initial Takbir before moving to Ruku’ (other than Takbirat al-Ihraam).
- Ruling: If you omit an Obligatory Act and remember it before you’ve moved past its point in the next Rakah, you should go back and perform it. If you remember it after you’ve moved on (e.g., you forgot the first Tashahhud and stood up fully for the third Rakah), you continue your prayer and perform Sujood as-Sahw before the Taslim.
3. Having Doubt (Ash-Shakk – الشك)
This occurs when you are unsure about the number of Raka’at you have performed.
- Example: You are praying Dhuhr (4 Raka’at) and are unsure whether you have prayed three or four Raka’at.
- Ruling: In this situation, you should build upon what you are most certain of (usually the lesser number). For instance, if you doubt between three or four, assume it is three and complete the prayer accordingly. Then, perform Sujood as-Sahw before the Taslim.
- Note: If you are overcome by doubt very frequently, to the point of being obsessive (waswas), you should generally ignore the doubt unless you are certain you made a mistake.
Steps to Perform Sujood as-Sahw
The method for Sujood as-Sahw depends on whether you perform it before or after the final Taslim.
A. Sujood as-Sahw Before the Taslim
Used for: Omitting an Obligatory Act (Naqs) or having Doubt (Shakk) (and building on the lesser number).
- Complete the Prayer (up to Tashahhud): You pray normally until the final sitting, complete the Tashahhud (At-tahiyyaatu Lillahi…), and send peace upon the Prophet (As-Salat Al-Ibrahimiyyah). You may also make any final supplications.
- Perform Two Prostrations:
- Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and go into prostration (Sujood).
- Say Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’la (سبحان ربي الأعلى) (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.
- Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and sit up briefly between the two prostrations.
- Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and perform the second prostration (Sujood).
- Say Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’la (سبحان ربي الأعلى) three times.
- Conclude the Prayer: Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and sit up. Immediately after this, give the final salutations (Taslim) by turning your head to the right and saying As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah (السلام عليكم ورحمة الله), then turning to the left and repeating it.
B. Sujood as-Sahw after the Taslim
Used for: Adding to the prayer (Ziyadah), or in certain cases of doubt where you were more certain of having completed the prayer.
- Conclude the Prayer Normally: You pray completely, perform the final Tashahhud, Salat Al-Ibrahimiyyah, and then give the final salutations (Taslim) to the right and left, ending your prayer as usual.
- Perform Two Prostrations:
- Immediately after the Taslim, say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and go into prostration (Sujood).
- Say Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’la (سبحان ربي الأعلى) three times.
- Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and sit up briefly between the two prostrations.
- Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and perform the second prostration (Sujood).
- Say Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’la (سبحان ربي الأعلى) three times.
- Give Taslim Again: Say Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) and sit up. Conclude the process by giving the final salutations (Taslim) to the right and left once more.
Evidences from the Sunnah
The practice of Sujood as-Sahw is firmly established in the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Numerous Hadith narrate instances where the Prophet (PBUH) made mistakes in prayer and then demonstrated how to correct them.
Example Hadith (Omitting an Obligatory Act):
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
Arabic: إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَتِمَّ قَائِمًا فَلْيَجْلِسْ، فَإِذَا اسْتَتَمَّ قَائِمًا فَلَا يَجْلِسْ، وَيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَىِ السَّهْوِ
Transliteration: Idhaa qaama ahadukum minar-rak’atayn falam yastatimma qaa’iman falyajlis, wa idhaa istatamma qaa’iman falaa yajlis, wayasjud sajdatay as-sahw.
English Translation (Meaning): “If any one of you stands up after two Raka’at and has not yet straightened up fully, he should sit down (to complete the Tashahhud). If he has already straightened up fully, he should not sit down, but he should make the two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sujood as-Sahw).” – (Sunan Abi Dawud, Sahih by Al-Albani)
This Hadith specifically addresses forgetting the first Tashahhud (an Obligatory Act) and outlines whether to return to it or proceed and do Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim.
Example Hadith (Adding to the Prayer or Doubt):
The Prophet (PBUH) made an extra Rakah and then performed Sujood as-Sahw after the Taslim. In another narration, when he doubted the number of Raka’at, he instructed:
Arabic:
إِذَا شَكَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيُلْقِ الشَّكَّ وَلْيَبْنِ عَلَى مَا اسْتَيْقَنَ، فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَنَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَتَمَّ صَلاَتَهُ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ
Transliteration: Idhaa shakka ahadukum fi salaatihi falyulqish-shakka walyabni ‘ala ma istaqana, fa idhaa istaqana annahu qad atamma salaatahu falyasjud sajdatayn wa huwa jaalisun qabl an yusallim.
English Translation (Meaning): “When any of you doubts in his prayer, let him cast aside doubt and proceed with what he is certain of. Then, when he is certain that he has completed his prayer, let him prostrate twice while sitting, before he gives the Taslim.” (Part of a long Hadith in Sahih Muslim) This Hadith highlights building on certainty and performing Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim for doubt.
Conclusion
Sujood as-Sahw is a profound manifestation of Allah’s mercy and the perfection of Islamic jurisprudence. It acknowledges human imperfection and provides a clear mechanism to rectify mistakes, allowing a believer to complete their prayer with confidence and peace of mind. By understanding and implementing Sujood as-Sahw, we ensure that our acts of worship are not just physically performed, but are spiritually sound and accepted by our Creator.
May Allah grant us the ability to perfect our Salah and accept our efforts.
FAQs
What is Sujood as-Sahw?
It is two extra prostrations performed to compensate for specific unintentional errors made during the Islamic prayer (Salah).
Does Sujood as-Sahw fix missing a Pillar?
No, if a Pillar (Rukn) is missed, the prayer is invalid; Sujood as-Sahw only corrects missing an Obligation (Wajib) or resolving doubt.
When is it performed before Taslim (Salam)?
It is performed before the final salutations (Taslim) if you forget an Obligatory Act (Naqs) or are unsure of the number of Raka’at (Shakk).
When is it performed after Taslim (Salam)?
It is performed after the Taslim if you accidentally added something to the prayer (Ziyadah), like an extra Rakah.
What if I forget the first Tashahhud?
Forgetting the first Tashahhud requires Sujood as-Sahw, which is performed before the final Taslim.
Do I do Sujood as-Sahw if I forget a Sunnah act?
Generally, no; the prayer remains valid and complete if only a Sunnah (recommended) act is forgotten.
