Salah is one of the most important acts of worship in Islam and a great pillar of the religion. Every Muslim should try to perform Salah correctly. However, human beings can naturally make mistakes and forget things, and sometimes a person may unintentionally delay or miss a necessary act during Salah.

Allah Almighty has provided ease for His servants by prescribing Sajdah Sahw to correct certain mistakes caused by forgetfulness.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed Sajdah Sahw when a mistake occurred in Salah, and this is established through authentic Hadith. Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed that when a person forgets something during Salah, he should perform two prostrations for forgetfulness.
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 572)

In this article, we will learn five important things about Sajdah Sahw, Insha’Allah:

1. The meaning and definition of Sajdah Sahw

2. The ruling of Sajdah Sahw

3. When Sajdah Sahw becomes necessary

4. How to perform Sajdah Sahw

5. What to do if a Fard is missed during Salah

1. Meaning and Definition of Sajdah Sahw

The Arabic word Sahw means forgetfulness, negligence, or unintentionally forgetting something.

In the terminology of Salah, Sajdah Sahw refers to the two prostrations performed at the end of Salah to compensate for certain mistakes caused by forgetfulness, such as delaying or unintentionally missing a Wajib act.

These two prostrations are known as Sajdah Sahw, or the prostrations of forgetfulness.

2. Ruling of Sajdah Sahw

According to the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, Sajdah Sahw is Wajib when a mistake occurs in Salah that makes Sajdah Sahw necessary.

For example, if a person unintentionally misses a Wajib act of Salah or delays it in a way that requires Sajdah Sahw, then Sajdah Sahw should be performed.

The basis for Sajdah Sahw is found in the authentic Hadith describing how the Prophet ﷺ corrected mistakes that occurred during Salah.

Abdullah ibn Buhaynah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once stood up after two Rak‘ahs without sitting for the first Tashahhud. After completing the Salah, he performed two prostrations and then gave Salam.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1224; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 570)

This Hadith shows that Sajdah Sahw is prescribed to compensate for certain mistakes caused by forgetfulness during Salah.

3. When Does Sajdah Sahw Become Necessary?

According to the Hanafi school, if a person unintentionally delays a Fard or Wajib act of Salah, or unintentionally misses a Wajib act, Sajdah Sahw may become Wajib according to the details of the mistake.

Similarly, if a Wajib act is performed significantly before or after its prescribed place in Salah, Sajdah Sahw may become necessary.

For example, if a person forgets the first sitting (Qa‘dah Ula) and stands up for the third Rak‘ah, he should complete the Salah and perform Sajdah Sahw at the end.

The narration of Abdullah ibn Buhaynah (رضي الله عنه) describes a similar incident in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up after two Rak‘ahs without sitting, and then performed two prostrations at the end of the Salah.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1224; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 570)

4. How to Perform Sajdah Sahw

According to the Hanafi school, the commonly taught method of Sajdah Sahw is as follows:

1. Sit in the Final Qa‘dah

After completing the final Rak‘ah of Salah, sit in the final Qa‘dah and recite At-Tahiyyat.

2. Give One Salam to the Right

After reciting At-Tahiyyat, turn your face to the right and give one Salam.

3. Perform Two Prostrations

Then say Allahu Akbar and go into Sajdah.

Perform two prostrations in the same manner as the normal prostrations of Salah.

After the first Sajdah, sit briefly and then perform the second Sajdah.

4. Sit Again

After the second Sajdah, sit again and recite:

• At-Tahiyyat

• Durood Ibrahim

• The prescribed Dua

5. Give Salam at the End

Finally, turn to the right and then to the left and give Salam to complete the Salah.

Short Sequence

At-Tahiyyat → One Salam to the Right → Two Sajdahs → Sit Again → At-Tahiyyat → Durood Ibrahim → Dua → Salam to the Right and Left

The basis for Sajdah Sahw is also found in several authentic narrations. Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once experienced forgetfulness during Salah. He completed the remaining part of the Salah and then performed Sajdah Sahw.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1229; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 573)

5. What If a Fard Is Missed During Salah?

If a Fard of Salah is missed, Sajdah Sahw alone does not replace that Fard because Sajdah Sahw is not a substitute for every missing Fard of Salah.

If a person realizes during or after Salah that a Fard has been missed, the ruling depends on the specific situation. In cases where the Fard cannot be corrected within the Salah, the Salah may need to be repeated.

In contrast, if a Wajib act is unintentionally missed in a situation where Sajdah Sahw is required, then according to the Hanafi school, Sajdah Sahw is performed to compensate for that mistake.

Important: Sajdah Sahw Is Not Required for Every Mistake

It is important to remember that Sajdah Sahw is not required for every small or minor mistake made during Salah.

Sajdah Sahw is related to specific types of mistakes involving the obligations and prescribed order of Salah. Therefore, a person should not develop the habit of performing Sajdah Sahw for every small mistake or doubt.

It is also important to understand the difference between Fard and Wajib, because their rulings are not the same.

Summary

Sajdah Sahw is a provision in Islamic law that provides a way to correct certain mistakes caused by forgetfulness during Salah.

In this article, we learned:

Meaning of Sajdah Sahw:
Two prostrations performed to compensate for certain mistakes caused by forgetfulness during Salah.

Ruling of Sajdah Sahw:
According to the Hanafi school, Sajdah Sahw becomes Wajib in specific situations when a Wajib act is unintentionally missed or delayed.

When does Sajdah Sahw become necessary?
It becomes necessary when a specific mistake occurs in Salah that requires Sajdah Sahw according to the rules of Islamic jurisprudence.

Method of Sajdah Sahw:
At the final sitting, recite At-Tahiyyat, give one Salam to the right, perform two prostrations, sit again, recite At-Tahiyyat, Durood Ibrahim and Dua, and finally give Salam to both sides.

What if a Fard is missed?
Sajdah Sahw does not replace a missed Fard. Depending on the situation, the Salah may need to be corrected or repeated.

May Allah Almighty enable us to learn the correct rulings of Salah, perform our prayers according to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and worship Him with sincerity.

Ameen, Ya Rabb al-‘Alameen.