Sujoodus-Sahw — The Prostrations for Forgetfulness

 Prostrations of Forgetfulness chart

As mentioned in the previous post, there are some situations where a musalee (person praying) makes a mistake during his/her prayer. Depending on the mistake, he/she has to compenstate for it. If the mistake had to do with one of the waajibaat of the salah (see previous post), then they may compensate for this by making two prostrations at the end of their salah.

What is Sujoodus-Sahw? (The following is based on notes take from Dr. Saleh’s discussions on this topic)

Definition: Two prostrations made by a praying person to compensate for defects in his/her salah and as a compeling for shaytaan, and it is pleasing to Ar-Rahmaan, The Most Beneficient.

An important point to note is that mistakes in the salah that necessitate sujoodus-sahw are mistakes that involve 1. adding to the prayer, 2. omitting something from the prayer, and 3. having doubts about what was/wasn’t performed in the prayer. Additions are in regards to things that are part of the salah, for example making an extra raka’a, sujood, rukoo’ etc. Adding things that are not part of the salah is not considered (i.e. no sujuudus-sahw). For example a person accidently speaks or walks, although this is an addition, they are not things that are part of the salah. So sujoodus-sahw is only performed for additions that are from the same kinds of/in the salah.

Now the questions are: When do we make sujuudus-sahw? and is it done before or after the salam? and how is it done if such and such a mistake happens? Some of the admin from Dr. Saleh’s class compiled all the senarios in a chart form. May Allaah reward them greatly for their work. This chart can be found here: Prostrations of Forgetfulness chart. There are some terminology that a person must know in order to understand the chart. Please read my previous post on the conditions, pillars, and waajibaat (requirements) of the salah. I strongly recommend that you go through the audio discussion on this topic if you experience difficulties understanding the chart.

 TERMINOLOGY FROM THE CHART

“Before tasleem” – After the person completes the last tashahud, sends the salat and salam upon the prophet, and seeks refuge from the four things, then he/she says “Allaahu akbar” and prostrates, says “Allaahu akbar” again and sits, then “Allaahu akbar” again and makes the 2nd prostration, then “Allaahu akbar” again and sits then he/she makes the tasleem and completes the prayer. The tashahud is not recited again.

“After tasleem” - When a person completes their salah and they make tasleem, they say Allaahu akbar and make 2 prostrations, then they say the tasleem again. The tashahud is not recited again.

“Tasleem” – saying “assalaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah” at the end of the prayer by turning the head to the right then left

“Sunnah” – it is recommended to do, but not an obligation.

“Nothing upon him” – does not have to make the prostrations

“Tashahud” – sitting and reading at-tahiyaatu…

“Doubt (ash-shak) (without preponderance)” –  This is when what you think and what you’re not sure of are equal in weight, so you are not more inclined to one or the other. E.g. 50% you think you are on the 3rd raka, and 50% you think you are in the 4th raka’a

“Build on certainty” - If there is doubt and you are 50/50 about something, then building on certainty is building on the lesser number, because you are sure that you did one of them. For example you are in doubt whether you are on your third or fourth raka’a. In this case you can be sure that you did three raka’as (the one you are on now) since it is the lesser number. In this case, count this one as your 3rd and then make your fourth. This way you build on what you are certain of, which is that you did 3 raka’at.

“Preponderance (dhan)” - This is when you have some doubt but you are more inclined to one side. For example, you doubt whether you are in your 3rd raka’a or 4th, but you are more inclined to thinking that you are on the fourth. This is preponderance.

“Droping of sujuud as sahw” – it does not have to be done anymore, i.e. its obligation drops

“Ma’muum” –  The one being lead in salah / someone following an imam

“Imaam” - The person leading other(s) in the prayer

“Masbuuq” - A person who joins the prayer after the imam already began the prayer. i.e. He joined the prayer late.