The prostration of forgetfulness (sujuud as-sahw)

The Prophet ﷺ himself made mistakes in prayer, to teach us what to do. He said: "I am only a human being: I forget as you forget. When I forget, remind me" (Bukhari 401, Muslim 572).

What is it? Two extra prostrations, like those of the prayer, with "Allaahu akbar" before each and a sitting between them, at the end of the prayer, to repair a mistake made through forgetfulness.

The three cases 1. Omission (an-naqṣ): a "duty" of the prayer was forgotten, for example the first tashahhud. The Prophet ﷺ stood up after the second rak'a of Dhuhr without sitting; at the end, he made two prostrations before the salaam (Bukhari 1224, Muslim 570). If you realise before standing fully, you may sit back down; otherwise carry on [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche]. 2. Addition (az-ziyaada): a rak'a, a bow or a prostration was added by mistake. The Prophet ﷺ prayed five rak'as at Dhuhr; when told, he made two prostrations (Bukhari 1226, Muslim 572). He also gave the salaam after two rak'as; he was reminded (the hadith of Dhu l-Yadayn), completed the prayer, then made the two prostrations after the salaam (Bukhari 1229, Muslim 573). 3. Doubt (ash-shakk): you no longer know whether you prayed three or four rak'as. "Let him cast aside the doubt and build on what he is sure of": take the lower number, complete, and make two prostrations before the salaam (Muslim 571). If you clearly lean towards one number, follow it (Bukhari 401, Muslim 572) [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche].

Before or after the salaam? This is where the schools differ most [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche]: • Hanafis: after the salaam (one salaam, two prostrations, then tashahhud and salaam). • Shafi'is: before the salaam, in every case. • Malikis: before the salaam for an omission, after it for an addition. • Hanbalis: as in each hadith (before the salaam in general, after it in the cases where the Prophet ﷺ did it after). All these ways are valid; what matters most is not to forget the two prostrations.

What the prostration does not repair • A forgotten pillar (for example a bow or Al-Faatiḥa): it must be done again. If you realise later, that rak'a does not count and you add one, then make the prostration of forgetfulness. • A deliberate omission: that is no longer forgetfulness. • A forgotten sunna (the opening supplication, a surah): no prostration is needed [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche].

Behind the imam Follow the imam: if he makes the prostration of forgetfulness, make it with him. The follower's mistakes are borne by the imam, except for what he must complete alone after the imam [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche]. To correct the imam, men say "subḥaana llaah" and women clap the back of one hand with the other (Bukhari 1203, Muslim 422).

Doubt that keeps coming back A person who doubts at every prayer (waswaas) does not start again: they ignore these doubts and seek Allah's protection. A doubt after the prayer has ended does not count.

Exercise: at home, go through a 4-rak'a prayer while deliberately "forgetting" to sit after the 2nd, then finish with the two prostrations as your imam teaches (a learning exercise only, not a real prayer).

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The prostration of forgetfulness says something beautiful: mistakes are part of human life, even in worship, and Allah has provided a simple repair. The Prophet ﷺ said that these two prostrations, in a case of doubt, "humiliate Shayṭaan" (Muslim 571): the one who wanted to spoil the prayer ends up causing two more prostrations. For a beginner, three ideas are enough: a forgotten duty is repaired with two prostrations; so is an addition; a doubt is settled by taking the certain number. The detail "before or after the salaam" comes later, with the imam's teaching. This lesson also protects against scruples: the prayer is not invalidated by a small mistake made through forgetfulness, and one does not start again at every doubt. The Prophet ﷺ set the example calmly: he asked, checked, completed, then prostrated. Common misunderstandings: restarting the whole prayer for an omission; thinking that the prostration of forgetfulness repairs a forgotten pillar; making it for a forgotten sunna; doubting endlessly after the prayer. Points where the schools differ: before or after the salaam; a tashahhud after prostrations made after the salaam; what is a "duty" or a "sunna" (and so what requires the prostration); doubt: building on the certain number or on one's best estimate; sitting back down for a forgotten first tashahhud [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche].

Lessons to draw from it • Do not panic over a mistake: a solution has been provided. • In case of doubt, take the certain number and complete. • Behind the imam, follow him, and correct him politely if he makes a mistake. • Ignore repeated doubts: they come from Shayṭaan.

Key points to remember • Two prostrations, at the end, for an omission, an addition or a doubt. • Forgotten first tashahhud: Bukhari 1224, Muslim 570. • Doubt: take the certain number (Muslim 571). • A forgotten pillar is done again; a forgotten sunna requires nothing.

The main message Allah has provided for mistakes in prayer: two prostrations are enough to repair them. We pray attentively, but without fear of getting it wrong.