Sajdah sahw, the prostration of forgetfulness
Made a mistake in your prayer? Pick what happened to see the Hanafi answer, then follow the steps of sajdah sahw.
If you remember before standing fully upright, sit back down and carry on: no sahw is needed if you were still nearer to sitting. If you were nearer to standing, or fully standing, do not go back. Carry on and make sajdah sahw at the end. Sitting for the first tashahhud is wajib.
Make sajdah sahw at the end. Reciting Al-Fatiha, and a surah after it in the first two rakahs of a fard prayer (and in every rakah of witr, sunnah and nafl), is wajib. If you remember before ruku, recite what you missed (Al-Fatiha, then the surah again if needed) and still make sajdah sahw at the end.
A sajdah is fard. If you remember during the prayer, make the missed sajdah straight away, then carry on and make sajdah sahw at the end. If you only remember after the prayer has ended and you have spoken or left, repeat the prayer.
Ruku is fard. Sajdah sahw cannot make it up. If you remember in the same rakah before the sajdahs, go back and make it. Otherwise that rakah does not count and must be made up; if the prayer has ended, repeat the prayer.
If you sat for the last tashahhud and then stood up: sit back down as soon as you remember, if you have not yet made the sajdah of the extra rakah, and make sajdah sahw. If you already made its sajdah, add one more rakah so the extra two count as nafl, and make sajdah sahw. If you did not sit for the last tashahhud: sit down if you remember before the sajdah of the extra rakah, and make sajdah sahw. If you already made its sajdah, the fard is spoiled: add one more rakah so they count as nafl, and pray the fard again.
If this kind of doubt is new to you, start the prayer again. If it happens to you often, go with what you think is most likely. If you have no leaning either way, take the lower number, sit for the tashahhud after every rakah that could be the last, and make sajdah sahw at the end.
The qunut is wajib in witr in the Hanafi school. If you remember in ruku, do not go back. Carry on and make sajdah sahw at the end.
If the imam recites at least a short ayah aloud in Dhuhr or Asr, or quietly in a loud prayer, sajdah sahw is needed. Someone praying alone does not need sahw for reciting quietly in Fajr, Maghrib or Isha.
If you stayed silent, lost in thought, for as long as it takes to say Subhanallah three times, and this delayed a fard or wajib act, make sajdah sahw.
If the imam makes sajdah sahw, follow him, even if you did not notice his mistake. If you joined late, make the sahw with him, then stand up after his salam and complete your missed rakahs.
A follower does not make sajdah sahw for his own mistake while behind the imam. The imam carries it. Mistakes you make while completing missed rakahs after the imam's salam do need sahw.
No sajdah sahw is needed for missing a sunnah act, such as the thana, the takbirs when moving, the tasbih in ruku and sajdah, or the dua. The prayer is complete.
One sajdah sahw, two sajdahs, covers every mistake in the prayer.
If you remember before speaking, turning your chest from the qibla or doing anything that ends the prayer, make it then. If you have already done one of those, the prayer is valid but deficient, and it is wajib to repeat it while its time remains.
In the last sitting, recite the tashahhud as usual. In the Hanafi school, stop there: do not recite the salawat or dua yet.
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The tashahhud of Ibn Masud: Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402.
Turn your face to the right only and say the salam.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
Say Allahu akbar and go into sajdah, saying Subhana rabbiyal-ala three times.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
Sit up saying Allahu akbar, pause, then make the second sajdah in the same way.
Sit up and recite the tashahhud, the salawat on the Prophet ﷺ and a dua.
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The tashahhud of Ibn Masud: Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd
O Allah, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370, from Kab ibn Ujrah.
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مُقِيْمَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِيْ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbij-ʿalnī muqīmaṣ-ṣalāti wa min dhurriyyatī, rabbanā wa taqabbal duʿāʾ. Rabbanagh-fir lī wa li-wālidayya wa lil-muʾminīna yawma yaqūmul-ḥisāb
My Lord, make me one who keeps up the prayer, and my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my prayer. Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the reckoning is set up. (Quran 14:40-41)
Quran 14:40-41.
Give salam to the right and to the left. The prayer is complete and the mistake is covered.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
In the last sitting, recite the tashahhud, the salawat and dua as usual.
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The tashahhud of Ibn Masud: Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd
O Allah, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370, from Kab ibn Ujrah.
Before giving salam, say Allahu akbar and make two sajdahs with a sitting between them, as in the prayer. The Maliki school does this after the salam instead when the mistake was adding something.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
Sit up and give salam. The prayer is complete.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
- When
- You missed or delayed a wajib act by mistake
- How
- One salam right, two sajdahs, tashahhud, salawat, salam (Hanafi)
- Not for
- A missed fard act, or a sunnah act
The method shown first is the Hanafi one. Where the other madhhabs differ, the guide below explains how. Use the arrow keys to move between steps.
Guide
Sajdah sahw, when it is needed and how
Sajdah sahw is two extra sajdahs at the end of the prayer that make up for a wajib act you missed or delayed by mistake. In the Hanafi school you recite the tashahhud in the last sitting, give one salam to the right, make two sajdahs, then recite the tashahhud, salawat and dua again and finish with salam. The Prophet ﷺ said: "For every mistake there are two sajdahs, after the salam."1
When is sajdah sahw needed?
It is needed when, by mistake, you leave out a wajib act of the prayer, delay a fard or wajib act, or do a fard act twice, such as an extra ruku. The main wajib acts in the Hanafi school are:
- Reciting Al-Fatiha, and a surah after it in the first two rakahs of a fard prayer and every rakah of other prayers.
- Sitting for the first tashahhud, and reciting the tashahhud in both sittings.
- Keeping the order of the acts, and being still in each position (tadil al-arkan).
- The qunut in witr, and the extra takbirs of the Eid prayer.
- Reciting aloud or quietly as the prayer requires, for the imam.
- Ending the prayer with the word salam.
Missing a fard act, such as the opening takbir, a ruku or a sajdah, cannot be fixed with sajdah sahw: make it up during the prayer if you can, or repeat the prayer. Missing a sunnah act needs nothing. Leaving a wajib act on purpose is not fixed by sahw either: repeat the prayer.
Sajdah sahw is wajib when its cause occurs, and it is made after one salam to the right, following the hadith of Thawban and the practice reported from Ibn Masud.2 One sajdah sahw covers all the mistakes in a prayer.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Always before the salam, after the tashahhud and salawat. It is sunnah, not wajib.
- Maliki
- Before the salam if you left something out, after the salam if you added something, and before it if both.
- Hanbali
- Before the salam, except in the cases where the Prophet ﷺ did it after, such as giving salam too early or acting on a firm guess.
The Prophet ﷺ himself made sajdah sahw both before the salam, when he missed the first sitting,3 and after it, when he prayed five rakahs of Dhuhr.4 The schools differ over which of these is the rule and which the exception, so either way follows a sunnah.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1038, from Thawban, graded hasan by al-Albani.
- Al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Bab Sujud al-Sahw; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar. Sahih al-Bukhari 401, from Ibn Masud.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1224, from Abdullah ibn Buhaynah.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1226, from Ibn Masud. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know
How do you do sajdah sahw?
In the Hanafi school: after the tashahhud in the last sitting, give one salam to the right, make two sajdahs, then recite the tashahhud, salawat and dua again, and give salam on both sides.
When is sajdah sahw required?
When you miss or delay a wajib act of the prayer by mistake, such as the first sitting, Al-Fatiha, the surah or the qunut in witr.
Is sajdah sahw before or after salam?
After one salam to the right in the Hanafi school. Before the salam in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, and in the Maliki school it depends on whether you left something out or added something.
What if I forgot the first tashahhud?
If you stood up fully, do not go back. Carry on and make sajdah sahw at the end.
Does the follower do sajdah sahw?
Not for his own mistakes behind the imam. He follows the imam if the imam makes it.
What if I am not sure how many rakahs I prayed?
Go with what you think is most likely. If you cannot lean either way, take the lower number and make sajdah sahw. If such doubt is new to you, the Hanafi school says start again.