What sujud as-sahw is, when it is made, and where scholars differ on whether it comes before or after the salam.
AI-generated English narration.
Sujud as-sahw (the prostration of forgetfulness) is a pair of extra prostrations that a worshipper makes to correct a mistake in the prayer. It is used when something is forgotten, when something extra is added, or when a person is unsure how many rak‘ahs have been prayed. It exists because even the Prophet ﷺ was a human being, and the reports show how he corrected his own mistakes.
What the reports say
- In one report, the Prophet ﷺ stood up after the second rak‘ah of Zuhr without sitting. When the prayer was nearly over, he said the takbir and prostrated twice before saying the salam (Sahih al-Bukhari 829).
- In another, he finished a prayer after two rak‘ahs. A companion, Dhul-Yadayn, asked whether the prayer had been shortened or he had forgotten. After confirming with the others, the Prophet ﷺ completed the remaining rak‘ahs, said the salam, and then made two prostrations (Sahih al-Bukhari 1228).
- For a person who is unsure whether they have prayed three or four rak‘ahs, a report in Sahih Muslim (571) says to set the doubt aside, build on what he is sure of, and make two prostrations before the salam.
The general picture
In outline, a person makes sujud as-sahw by saying the takbir and performing two prostrations like ordinary prostrations, then finishing the prayer. It is most often connected with three situations: leaving out a part of the prayer, adding an extra part, and doubt about the count. The exact list of which omissions are made up in this way, and which require the missed part itself to be prayed, differs between the schools of fiqh.
The reports above also show the right attitude: the correction is simple and calm. It is a mercy built into the prayer, not a reason for anxiety.
Key points
- Sujud as-sahw is two extra prostrations that make up for a mistake in prayer: forgetting a part, adding something extra, or being unsure how many rak‘ahs were prayed.
- It is based on reports in which the Prophet ﷺ himself prostrated twice after forgetting, so a mistake in prayer is corrected calmly rather than by abandoning the prayer.
- Scholars differ on whether the two prostrations come before or after the final salam; all agree that they are prescribed.
- Which mistakes are covered, and which require repeating the missed part, depends on the school — ask a knowledgeable teacher about your specific case.
Hadith
Narrated `Abdullah bin Buhaina:(he was from the tribe of Uzd Shanu'a and was the ally of the tribe of `Abdul-Manaf and was one of the companions of the Prophet): Once the Prophet (ﷺ) led us in the Zuhr prayer and stood up after the second rak`a and did not sit down. The people stood up with him. When the prayer was about to end and the people were waiting for him to say the Taslim, he said Takbir while sitting and prostrated twice before saying the Taslim and then he said the Taslim.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 829 .
Narrated Abu Huraira.:Once Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered two rak`at and finished his prayer. So Dhul-Yadain asked him, "Has the prayer been reduced or have you forgotten?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Has Dhul-Yadain spoken the truth?" The people replied in the affirmative. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up and offered the remaining two rak`at and performed Taslim, and then said Takbir and performed two prostrations like his usual prostrations, or a bit longer, and then got up.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1228 .
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
Scholarly notes
Timing: scholars differ on whether sujud as-sahw is made before or after the salam, largely because different reports describe each (the two Bukhari reports above show one of each). In outline, the Hanafi school generally places it after the salam; the Shafi‘i school before it; the Maliki school distinguishes between cases of omission (before) and addition (after); and the Hanbali school generally follows the placement given in each report. All accept that the prostrations themselves are prescribed. Follow the practice of your school or local teacher.
FAQ
Do I make sujud as-sahw for every mistake?
Not necessarily. Which mistakes require it, and which are handled another way, depends on what exactly happened and on the school followed. If you are unsure, ask a knowledgeable local teacher about your situation.
What if I keep doubting my prayer again and again?
The reports describe a calm correction after a genuine mistake. If doubts are frequent and distressing, speak to a trusted teacher rather than repeating your prayers repeatedly.
Report a correction. HikmahBridge is an educational resource, not a replacement for a qualified scholar or teacher.
Lesson 17 of 17 in How to Pray
End of module 5. Practise it: Salah Lab