--- title: "Sujood as-Sahw: Prostration of Forgetfulness Explained" description: "Sujood as-sahw, known as the prostration of forgetfulness, is an established Islamic practice consisting of two prostrations performed near the end of prayer to compensate for unintentional mistakes. Humans are naturally prone to lapses in…" canonical: "https://eilaf101.com/sujood-as-sahw/" content_type: "post" author: "seo" date_published: "2026-10-25T06:00:00+00:00" date_modified: "2026-10-18T10:44:20+00:00" language: "en-US" agent_client: "claude-bot" ---  # Sujood as-Sahw: Prostration of Forgetfulness Explained By seo Sujood as-sahw, known as the prostration of forgetfulness, is an established Islamic practice consisting of two prostrations performed near the end of prayer to compensate for unintentional mistakes. Humans are naturally prone to lapses in concentration, and ritual prayer (Salah) requires precise physical movements and recitations. Rather than requiring a worshipper to repeat an entire prayer due to an accidental slip, Islamic jurisprudence provides this mechanism to repair the prayer, restore focus, and maintain spiritual peace of mind. ## What is Sujood as-Sahw? Sujood as-sahw is a corrective act of worship consisting of two prostrations performed either before or after the final Salam to rectify minor, unintentional mistakes made during prayer. This practice is based directly on the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who experienced forgetfulness during prayer on several recorded occasions and demonstrated to Muslims how such mistakes should be corrected. Sujood as-sahw reflects the mercy and practicality of Islamic law, allowing worshippers to correct unintentional errors without having to repeat the entire prayer. ## Mistakes that require it The necessity for sajdah sahw arises from three specific categories of unintentional mistakes in salah: an accidental addition (Ziyadah), an accidental omission (Nuqsan), or lingering doubt (Shakk). ### 1. Unintentional Addition (Ziyadah) This occurs when a person accidentally adds an extra physical action to the prayer: - Performing an extra bow (Ruku) or prostration (Sujood). - Standing up for an extra unit of prayer, such as praying five units (Rakahs) instead of four in Dhuhr. - Reciting aloud during quiet prayers or adding extra standing postures. ### 2. Unintentional Omission (Nuqsan) This applies specifically to omitting an obligatory act (Wajib) of prayer, not a foundational pillar (Rukn): - Forgetting the first sitting and middle testimony (Tashahhud) and standing straight up for the third unit. - Forgetting the glorifications during bowing (Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem) or prostration (Subhana Rabbiyal A'la). - Note: If a foundational pillar (such as reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, bowing, or prostrating) is missed, it must be performed physically; a prostration alone cannot replace a missing pillar. ### 3. Doubt in Prayer (Shakk) This happens when a worshipper is uncertain about the number of units completed: - Uncertainty over whether two or three units were prayed. - Uncertainty over whether one or two prostrations were made in the current unit. ## Before vs after Salam The decision to perform the two prostrations before or after the concluding Salam depends directly on whether the mistake involved an omission or an addition. Type of Error Specific Scenario Timing of Sujood Omission Forgot an obligatory act (e.g., first Tashahhud) Before Salam Doubt (No conviction) Uncertain between 3 or 4 units; build on the lower number (3) Before Salam Addition Added an extra Rakah, Ruku, or Sujood accidentally After Salam Doubt (With conviction) Settled on the most probable number after reflection After Salam - Before Salam Rule: If your prayer has a deficit, you perform the two prostrations before the Salam to complete the prayer before exiting it. - After Salam Rule: If your prayer has an accidental addition, performing the prostrations after the Salam ensures you do not add even more actions inside the formal prayer boundaries. Read also about: [How Many Rakats Each Prayer?](https://eilaf101.com/how-many-rakats-each-prayer/) ## Step-by-step method The execution of the prostration of forgetfulness follows a simple, structured sequence. - Complete the Tashahhud: Recite the full final testimony and blessings upon the Prophet (PBUH) as normal. - Make the Prostrations: Say Allahu Akbar, descend into a standard prostration, recite Subhana Rabbiyal A'la three times, sit up saying Allahu Akbar, pause, say Allahu Akbar, and complete the second prostration. - Conclude: If performing it before the greeting, announce the Salam immediately upon sitting up from the second prostration. If performing it after the greeting, conclude with another Salam to the right and left. ## Common prayer scenarios Real-world prayer situations illustrate how to resolve errors practically without starting the entire prayer over. ### Scenario 1: Forgetting the Middle Tashahhud If you stand up after the second unit without sitting for the first Tashahhud: - If you remember before standing fully erect, sit back down and recite it. - If you have already stood up completely, do not return to the sitting position. Continue your prayer normally, complete your units, and perform the two prostrations before Salam. ### Scenario 2: You Forgot Rakah Details or Prayed an Extra Unit If you realize during the fifth unit of a four-unit prayer that you added an extra unit: - Sit down immediately, recite the final Tashahhud if needed, say the Salam, then perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness after Salam, concluding with a final Salam. ### Scenario 3: Paralyzed by Doubt Over Numbers If you are praying Maghrib and cannot remember whether you are on the second or third unit: - Base your count on certainty, which is the lower number (two units). - Complete the third unit, recite the final Tashahhud, perform the two prostrations before Salam, and say Salam. ## When to ask a scholar? You should consult a knowledgeable local scholar under specific, complex conditions that exceed standard rules: - Chronic Whispers (Waswas): If doubts occur in every single prayer, standard rules change; scholars advise ignoring recurring doubts entirely to break the psychological cycle. - Omission of Pillars Discovered Late: If you realize hours after finishing prayer that you skipped a core pillar like a full bowing or prostration. - Multiple Competing Errors: If you committed major additions and omissions simultaneously and feel uncertain about the validity of the sequence. Know more about: [How To Pray In Islam?](https://eilaf101.com/how-to-pray-in-islam/) ## FAQ ### What is Sujood as-Sahw? It is the prostration of forgetfulness, consisting of two prostrations performed near the end of ritual prayer to compensate for accidental additions, omissions, or uncertainties. ### Do I perform it before or after Salam? Perform it before Salam if you omitted an obligatory act or built your count on the lower number due to doubt. Perform it after Salam if you made an accidental addition to the prayer or resolved your doubt based on strong probability. ### What if I forgot a rakah? If you realize shortly after finishing your prayer that you missed an entire unit, stand up immediately without speaking, pray the missing unit, sit for the Tashahhud, perform the Salam, and complete the two prostrations after Salam. If a long period of time has passed, you must repeat the entire prayer. ### Does doubt invalidate prayer? No, simple doubt does not invalidate prayer. You resolve it by building upon what you are certain of (the lower number of units), completing the remaining requirements, and performing Sujood as-Sahw.