Sujood as-Sahw: The Prostration of Forgetfulness

Sujood as sahw is the prostration of forgetfulness, two extra prostrations that make up for mistakes made in prayer.

Every Muslim forgets in salah sometimes; even the Prophet ﷺ did, and he said: “I am a human being like you; I forget as you forget. So if I forget, remind me” (Bukhari).

Sujood as-sahw is the mercy Allah gave to repair these mistakes.

This guide explains when sujood as-sahw is required, how to perform it, the main situations, differences between the schools and frequently asked questions.

What Is Sujood as-Sahw?

It is two prostrations performed at the end of the prayer, with a sitting between them, to make up for:

• Adding something to the prayer by mistake
• Omitting something from the prayer by mistake
• Doubt about how much has been prayed

How to Perform It

There are two methods in the Sunnah:

Before the salam

After the final tashahhud, say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate, sit, prostrate again, then give salam.

After the salam

Give salam, then say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate twice with a sitting between, then give salam again. Some schools add a tashahhud before the final salam.

In each prostration, say what you normally say: “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la.”

Main Situations

1. Forgetting the first tashahhud

The Prophet ﷺ stood up after two rak’ahs of Zuhr without sitting for the first tashahhud. He completed the prayer and prostrated twice before the salam (Bukhari).

If you stand fully, do not return; continue and do sujood as-sahw.

2. Praying an extra rak’ah

The Prophet ﷺ prayed five rak’ahs of Zuhr. When told, he prostrated twice after the salam (Bukhari).

3. Giving salam early

The Prophet ﷺ gave salam after two rak’ahs. Dhul-Yadayn asked if the prayer had been shortened.

He confirmed with others, prayed the remaining rak’ahs and then did sujood as-sahw (Bukhari).

4. Doubt

“If one of you doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed three or four, let him cast aside the doubt and build on what he is sure of, then prostrate twice before the salam” (Muslim).

If he strongly thinks one is correct, he builds on that and prostrates.

Pillars vs Obligations vs Sunnahs

• Pillars (arkan), like ruku’ and sujood, cannot be replaced by sujood as-sahw. The missed pillar must be performed.
• Obligations (wajibat), like the first tashahhud in the Hanbali school, are made up for by sujood as-sahw.
• Sunnahs usually do not require sujood as-sahw, though some schools allow it.

Differences Between Schools

All methods have evidence, and any is valid.

For the Follower in Congregation

If the imam makes a mistake, the followers say “SubhanAllah” to remind him and follow him in sujood as-sahw.

A follower who makes a small mistake behind the imam generally does not prostrate for it.

Waswas

For those who constantly doubt, scholars advise ignoring the doubts, because acting on them increases waswas.

Why Scholars Differ on Details

Readers sometimes notice that the four schools of fiqh differ on details of sujood as-sahw.

This can be confusing at first, but it is a natural and healthy part of Islamic scholarship.

The differences arise because narrations reached scholars in different ways, because some texts can be understood in more than one valid manner, and because scholars weighed evidence using different principles.

The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools each built careful methods over centuries, and all of them are within Ahl as-Sunnah.

For ordinary Muslims, the practical advice is simple: learn the details of sujood as-sahw according to one reliable school or from a qualified teacher you trust, and follow that consistently.

Do not mix opinions to pick the easiest option each time, and do not criticise others who follow a different valid view.

The companions themselves differed on many details while loving and respecting each other.

Ease in Islamic Law

One of the clearest themes in the fiqh of prayer is ease.

Allah says: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (Al-Baqarah 2:185), and “He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty” (Al-Hajj 22:78).

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Make things easy and do not make them difficult” (Bukhari).

The rulings of sujood as-sahw reflect this.

They are clear enough to be learned by anyone, flexible enough to fit different circumstances and merciful enough to account for human weakness.

At the same time, ease does not mean carelessness.

The believer takes the rulings seriously, learns them properly and performs them with sincerity, while trusting that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.

A Practical Checklist

Before relying on what you have learned about sujood as-sahw, run through this checklist:

1. Do I know the obligatory parts, which must not be left out?
2. Do I know the sunnah parts, which complete the act and bring extra reward?
3. Do I know what invalidates it?
4. Have I practised it at least once with care?
5. Do I know whom to ask if I face an unusual situation?
6. Can I explain it simply to a family member?

If any answer is “no,” return to that part of this guide or ask a teacher. Fiqh is learned best step by step, with practice and correction.

Learning Fiqh With a Teacher

Books and articles are valuable, but they cannot see your practice.

A teacher can watch you perform sujood as-sahw, notice small mistakes and answer questions specific to your situation.

The scholars of the past learned fiqh by sitting with teachers for years, and the tradition of learning through a living chain remains the most reliable way to understand the religion.

Even a short course in the fiqh of prayer (salah) can transform your worship. You will gain confidence, remove doubts and waswas, and be able to help your family.

Many learners find that once they study fiqh properly, their prayers and acts of worship feel calmer and more focused, because they are no longer worried about whether they are doing things correctly.

Teaching Children

Children learn fiqh best by watching and doing. Let them see you perform sujood as-sahw and explain each step in simple words.

Use a simple chart with pictures or numbered steps for younger children. Praise effort rather than perfection, and correct gently.

The Prophet ﷺ taught young companions by example and with kindness, as when he taught the young Umar ibn Abi Salamah table manners, saying: “Young man, mention Allah’s name, eat with your right hand and eat from what is in front of you” (Bukhari).

The same gentle approach works for teaching acts of worship.

Reflection: Worship and the Heart

Fiqh tells us how to perform an act correctly, but the purpose of every act of worship is to bring the heart closer to Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds” (Muslim).

As you perform sujood as-sahw, remind yourself why you are doing it: out of obedience and love for Allah, hoping for His reward and fearing His displeasure.

Combine correct form with sincere intention, and your worship will be both valid and beloved.

Ask yourself:

1. Do I perform this act with presence of heart or only out of habit?
2. What can I do to make it more sincere?
3. Which sunnah of this act have I been neglecting?
4. Who in my family could benefit from learning it?

A Four-Week Plan to Apply What You Learned About sujood as sahw

Knowledge sticks when it is turned into a routine. Here is a simple four-week plan to build on this guide.

• Week one: Re-read this article slowly and write down the three points that were newest to you. Share one of them with a family member, because explaining an idea is one of the best ways to understand it.
• Week two: Connect the topic to your daily Quran reading. Each day, look for one verse or phrase in your portion that relates to sujood as sahw, and note it in a small notebook.
• Week three: Ask questions. Bring anything that is still unclear to a qualified teacher, and correct any misunderstanding before it becomes a habit.
• Week four: Review your notebook, choose one practical change and commit to it for the next month. Small, consistent actions are more beloved to Allah than large efforts that do not last.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.”

Apply that principle here, and this topic will become part of your life rather than something you read once and forgot.

Quick Reference Summary

Questions New Muslims Often Ask

People who have recently embraced Islam often feel overwhelmed by the many rulings they need to learn, and sujood as-sahw is one of the topics they ask about most.

If that describes you, take comfort: the Prophet ﷺ taught new Muslims gradually.

When he sent Muadh to Yemen, he told him to begin with tawhid, then prayer, then zakah, one step at a time. You are not expected to master everything in a week.

A good order of learning is: first the shahadah and its meaning, then wudu and ghusl, then the five daily prayers, then fasting, then the other acts of worship as they become relevant.

Within each topic, learn the obligatory parts first and add the sunnahs gradually. Do not let fear of making mistakes stop you from worshipping;

Allah rewards sincere effort, and mistakes can be corrected.

It is also worth finding a supportive community.

Many mosques run classes for new Muslims, and one-to-one lessons with a patient teacher can answer questions you might be shy to ask in public.

Keep a list of your questions as they arise, and ask them one at a time. Over months, the rulings that once felt complicated will become natural habits.

Mistakes in Learning Fiqh Online

The internet has made Islamic knowledge accessible, but it has also spread confusion.

Short clips rarely give the full picture, and a ruling that applies in one situation may not apply in another.

Treat online content as a starting point and confirm important matters with people of knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sujood as-sahw obligatory?

It is required when an obligation is missed, according to many scholars.

Before or after salam?

Both are valid, depending on the situation and school.

What do I say in sujood as-sahw?

The same as in regular sujood.

What if I forget sujood as-sahw?

If remembered shortly, do it; if a long time has passed, many scholars say the prayer is still valid unless a pillar was missed.

Does it apply to nafl prayers?

Yes.

Final Thoughts

Sujood as sahw shows that Allah accepts human weakness and gives us a way to repair our prayers.

Learn the main cases, stay calm when you forget, and let these two prostrations humble you before your Lord.