THE FORGETFULNESS PROSTRATION (SUJUUD ASSAHW)

THE FORGETFULNESS PROSTRATION
(SUJUUD ASSAHW)

As human beings, we are by nature subject to mistakes
and errors. If a person fails to perform any
of the pillars of the prayer and/or necessary duties, that person
is required to rectify the error by making two additional
prostrations at the end of the prayer known as “SUJJUD
ALSAHW”. i.e. forgetfulness prostration. But where a pillar(s) is
omitted, a repetition of the missed pillar(s) is necessary.
The four major types of errors due to forgetfulness are as
follows:

If an addition is made to the prayer e.g. praying Dhuhr with 5
rakaa instead of 4, then the two additional prostrations for
forgetfulness should be performed after saying “Assalaam”.
(Words of peace).

If a prayer is performed with a lesser number of rakaa than
is required, e.g. to pray 3 rakaa for Dhuhr instead of 4.
Then, the two additional prostrations for forgetfulness should
be performed before proclaiming “Assalaam”.

If both an addition and omission is made in the course of the
prayer, the forgetfulness prostration can be done before
declaring the “Assalaam”.

If a person is in doubt whether omission or addition is made
to his prayer, he should consider it a deduction as a
precautionary measure and perform Sujuud Assahw - the
additional prostration for forgetfulness before affirming
“Assalaam”.

INSTANCES REQUIRING “SUJUUD ASSAHW” :

A. Where a pillar of prayer is omitted.

1. When, for example, a person forgets to recite the “Al-
Fatihah” but remembers it before Rukuu, or in the process of
proceeding to rukuu, then that person is required to resume
a proper standing position and read the Al-Fatihah and
some other verses from the Holy Quran as usual. If this
omission occurred in the first rakaa and the person
remembers the omission while in the course of the second
rakaa, then that person should count the second rakaa as
being the first rakaa. Accordingly, he will not count the first
rakaa, in which the error occurred, and proceed to perform
one extra rakaa to complete his salaat. At the end of salaah,
he will say “Assalaam”, after which he should perform two
additional Sujuud Assahw - the prostration for forgetfulness,
and again say his “Assalaam”.

2. If a person sitting in the final Tashahhud, remembers that he
missed a prostration (in the same rakaa), then he should
immediately perform the missed prostration and sit back
again to repeat the recitation of Tashahhud. This person
would then declare “Assalaam” to conclude the prayer, but
thereafter he should perform the additional Sujuud Assahw -
the prostration for forgetfulness, and then say the
“Assalaam” again.

The above two examples typify errors that occur in performing a
pillar of salaat (Rukn-us-Salaat) while performing Salaat. In
these situations, the person is not only required to repeat the
missed act, but he is also required to perform the two
additional prostrations - Sujuud Assahw.

B. Where a necessary duty is omitted.

However, when someone misses a “WAAJIB” (Necessary duty)
of the prayer, the additional two prostrations (Sujuud Assahw,
will suffice. There is no need to repeat the missed act or the
whole rakaa. Thus, if a Wajib act is missed and the person
remembers the error, while he is in another stage station of the
prayer, then he is not required to repeat the ignored act, but
would proceed to complete the rest of the prayer. At the end,
before saying “Assalaam”, he performs the additional two
prostrations - Sujuud Assahw, the prostration for forgetfulness.

C. When a preferred act is omitted.

As for Sunnans (Preferred Acts) of the prayer which may be
missed, there is no necessity to repeat those preferred acts, or
to perform the Sujuud Assahw.